LIU
Years
Period
Who came to Britain
Why
In the 16th and
Huguenots (French Protestants)
to escape religious persecution in
18th centuries
France.
In the mid -1840s
Irish people
there was a terrible famine in
Ireland. They became labourers
and helped to build canals and
railways
From 1880 to
Jewish people
to escape racist attacks (called
1910
'pogroms') in what was then called
the Russian Empire and from the
countries now called Poland,
Ukraine and Belarus
After the Second
Ireland and other parts of
to help with the reconstruction of
World War (1939-
Europe
UK
45)
In 1948
West Indies
They were invited to come and
work.
During the 1950s
West Indies
to drive buses (for economic
reasons)
During the 1950s
India and Pakistan
for economic reasons, Textile and
engineering firms from the north of
England and the Midlands sent
agents to find workers
In the late 1960sk
immigrants from "old"
the government passed new laws
Commonwealth countries such
to restrict immigration to Britain,
as Australia, New Zealand and
although these countries did not
Canada
have to face such strict controls
In 1979
more than 25000 refugees from
South East Asia and thousands
of them from India
In the 1980s
the largest immigrant groups
came from the United States,
Australia, South Africa, and
New Zealand.
In the early 1990s
groups of people from the
looking for a new and safer way of
former Soviet Union
life
Since 1994
global rise in mass migration
for both political and economic
reasons
Since 2004
new East European member
states of the European Union.
A census has been taken every ten years since
1801
, except during the
second World war.
The next census will take place in
2011
.
The Queen has reigned since her father's death in
1952
. Prince Charles,
the Prince of Wales, her oldest son, is the heir to the throne.
Until
1958
all the house of lord peers were either hereditary or bishops of
the Church of England
Since
1958
the Prime Minister has had the power to appoint peers just for
their own lifetime (life peers). Life peers are appointed by Queen on the
advice of prime minister
Following legislation passed in
2005
, it is now possible for the Lord
Chancellor to sit in the Commons
In order to give people in Wales and Scotland more control of matters that
directly affect them, in
1997
the government began a programme of
devolving power from central government.
Since
1999
there has been a Welsh Assembly, a Scottish Parliament and,
periodically, a Northern Ireland Assembly
A Northern Ireland Parliament was established in
1922
when Ireland was
divided, but it was abolished in
1972
shortly after the Troubles broke out in
1969
In
19th-century
Britain, families were usually large and in many poorer
homes men, women and children all contributed towards the family
income
Until
1857
, a married woman had no right to divorce her husband
Until
1882
, when a woman got married, her earnings, property and money
automatically belonged to her husband
During the
1960s and 1970s
there was increasing pressure from women
for equal rights. Parliament passed new laws giving women the right to
equal pay and prohibiting employers from discriminating against women
because of their sex
In
January 2002
twelve European Union (EU) states adopted the euro as
their common currency
The NHS began in
1948
The United Kingdom has had a fully democratic system since
1928
, when
women were allowed to vote at 21, the same age as men. The present
voting age of 18 was set in
1969
In
January 2002
twelve European Union (EU) states adopted the euro as
their common currency
Education
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern
Ireland
Primary
5 to 11
5 to 12
4 to 11
Seconday
11 to 16
12 to 16
11 to 16
(Children
taken to
school
through
test)
Stages
4 (key stages)
2 phases
SAT
7,11,14
Assessment
1st Phase (5 to 14)
Compulsory
at 7 to 11
six levels : A to F
Testing
and
compulsory
test at 14
Further
GCSE at 16
14 to 16 : Standard
Education
Grade SQA at 16
Advance
AS level (3 AS
Intermediate or
Education
units) AGCE/A
Higher Advance
level (6 AS units)
Grades at 17/18
at 17/18 or
vocational
qualification
Career Advice
age of 14
age of 11
all ages
* Compulsory
There are about
2,500
independent (private) schools in the UK. about
8
%
of children go to these schools.
Secondary schools are
larger
than primary schools
Education at state schools in the UK is
free
, but parents have to pay for
school uniforms and sports wear
Schools must be open
190
days a year
AGCEs are traditional route for higher education
Some areas of the country offer free nursery education for children over
the age of 3.
Young people from families with low incomes can get financial help with
their studies when they leave school at 16.
Age
in
1918
, women over the age of
30
were finally given the right to vote and
to stand for election to Parliament
It was not until
1928
that women won the right to vote at
21
, at the same
age as men.
The present voting age of
18
was set in
1969
By law, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under
18
years old
Young people under the age of
18
are not allowed to buy alcohol
Young people are eligible to vote in elections from age
18
there are more people over
60
than children under
16
. There is also a
record number of people aged
85
and over.
Most citizens of the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic or the
Commonwealth aged
18
or over can stand for public office.
People under
18
are not allowed into betting shops or gambling
People under
16
are not allowed to buy a lottery ticket or scratch card
Train Discount tickets are available for families, people aged 60 and over,
disabled people, students and people under
26
You must be at least
17
to drive a car or motorcycle,
18
to drive a
medium_sized lorry, and
21
to drive a large lorry or bus.
Just before their
16th
birthday, all young people in the UK are sent a
National Insurance number.
The State Pension age for men is currently
65
years of age and for
women it is
60
, but the State Pension age for women will increase to 65 in
stages between 2010 and 2020.
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is currently available for men aged
18-65
and women aged
18-60
who are capable of working, available for work
and trying to find work.
Unemployed
16
and
17
-year-olds may be able to claim a Young Person's
Bridging Allowance (YPBA).
Young people who have been unemployed for
6
months and adults who
have been unemployed for
18
months are usually required to join New
Deal if they wish to continue receiving benefit
Legally, the earliest age children can work is
13
years old
Childrens at work
The earliest legal age for children to do paid work is set at 14.
Every child must have at least two consecutive weeks a year during the
school holidays when they do not work.
They cannot work:
o
for more than 4 hours without a one-hour rest break
o
for more than 2 hours on any school day or a Sunday
o
before 7.a.m. or after 7.a.m.
o
for more than one hour before school starts
o
for more than 12 hours in any school week.
15 and 16-year-olds can work slightly more hours than 14-year-olds on a
weekday when they are not at school, on Saturdays and in school
holidays
Healthcare
Most people have to pay for sight tests and glasses, except children,
people over
60
, people with certain eye conditions and people receiving
certain benefits. In Scotland, eye tests are free
Outpatient
minor tests at a hospital,
Day-patient
Treatment for several hours
In-patient
Overnight stay at hospital
Prescriptions
are free for anyone who is :
under 16 years of age (under 25 in Wales)
under 19 and in full-time education
aged 60 or over
pregnant or with a baby under 12 months old
suffering from a specified medical condition
receiving Income Support, Jobseekers' Allowance, Working Families or
disabilities Tax Credit.
Free dental treatment is
available to
people under 18 (in Wales people under 25 and over 60)
pregnant women and women with babies under 12 months old
people on income support, Jobseekers\' Allowance or Pension Credit
Guarantee
Film Classification
U (Universal):
suitable for anyone aged 4 years and over
PG (parental
suitable for everyone but some parts of the film might be
guidance)
unsuitable for children. Their parents should decide
12 or 12a
children under 12 are not allowed to see or rent the film
unless they are with an adult.
15
under 15 are not allowed to see or rent the film
18
No one under 18 is allowed to see or rent the film.
R18
no one under 18 is allowed to see the film, which is only
available in specially licensed cinemas
Percentages
In 2003 a survey of young people in England and Wales showed that
86%
of young people had taken part in some form of community event over the
past year, and
50
% had taken part in fund-raising or collecting money for
charity
65
% of children live with both birth parents, almost
25
% live in loneparent
families, and
10
% live within a stepfamily
Women in Britain today make up
51
% of the population and
45
% of the
workforce.
The average hourly pay rate for women is
20
% less than for men, and
after leaving university most women still earn
less
than men.
The population has grown by
7.7%
since 1971, and growth has been
faster
in more recent years
In the 2001 census, just over
75
% said they had a religion:
7 out of 10
of
these were Christians
Only around
10%
of the population attend religious services.
People of Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Black Caribbean, Black African,
Bangladeshi and mixed ethnic descent make up
8.3%
of the UK
population. Today about half the members of these communities were
born in the United Kingdom.
10
% of Christians are Roman Catholic (
40
% in Northern Ireland).
Most of the money for the local authority services comes from the
government through taxes. Only about
20
% is funded locally through
'council tax' a local tax set by councils to help pay for local services.
If only one person lives in the fiat or house, you get a
25
% reduction on
your Council Tax. (This does not apply in Northern Ireland).
Dialects
Place
Accents and Dialects
Tyneside
Geordie
Liverpool
Scouse
London
Cockney
Wales
Welsh
Some parts of the Highlands and Islands in
Gaelic
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Irish Gaelic
influenced in Scotland
Scots
Northern Ireland
Ulster Scots
Dates
Patron saints
1
st
March
St.David day
Wales
17
th
March
St.Patric day
Northern Ireland (public
holiday)
23
rd
April
St.George day
England
30
th
November
St.Andrews day
Scotland
Other Important Dates:
Birth of Jesus Christ
25
th
December
Boxing Day
26
th
December
Chrismas Eve
24
th
December
Hogmanay in Scotland
31
st
December
Mother’s day
The Sunday three weeks before Easter
Halloween
31
st
October
Guy Fawkes Night
5
th
November
Rememberence day (wear poppies,
11
th
November
and silence at 11am for 2 minutes)
The electoral register is updated every year in
September
or
October
with names of resident in the household and eligible to vote on
15
October.
Ministers and Responsibilities
Who
is
Chancellor of the Exchequer
responsible for the economy
the Home Secretary
responsible for law, order and immigration
the Foreign Secretary, and
for education, health and defence
ministers (called 'Secretaries of
State')
The Lord Chancellor
responsible for legal affairs
Numbers
Half
of all young adults, and about
a third
of the population as a whole,
have used illegal drugs at one time or another
there is a government target that
half
of all young people attend higher
education
One in three
young people now go on to higher education at college or
university
ln the 2001 general election, only
1 in 5
first-time voters used their vote
It is thought there are
2
million children at work at any one time.
In the UK, there are almost
15
million children and young people up to the
age of
19
. This is almost
one-quarter
of the UK population.
Two-third
of people in the Uk own their own home
Today, almost
three-quarters
(3/4) of women with schooI-age children
are in paid work.
The information about household (census) remains confidential and
anonymous; it can only be released to the public after
100
years
The longest distance on the mainland, from John O'Groats on the north
coast of Scotland to Land's End in the south-west corner of England, is
about
870
miles (approximately
1,400
kilometres)
London has
33
local authorities, with the Greater London Authority and the
Mayor of London co-ordinating policies across the capital
There are
78
seats for representatives from the UK in the European
Parliament and elected members are called Members of the European ??
The Prime Minister appoints about
20
senior MPs to become ministers in
charge of departments
These ministers form the Cabinet, a small committee which usually meets
weekly
The UK is divided into
646
parliamentary constituencies
There are
129
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs),
A Northern Ireland Assembly has
108
elected members known as MLAs
Members of the Legislative Assembly
Wales has
60
Assembly Members (AMs) and elections are held every
four
years
People who buy their own home usually pay for it with a mortgage, a
special loan from a bank or building society. This loan is paid back, with
interest, over a long period of time, usually
25
years.
All properties in the UK have electricity supplied at
240
volts.
Dial
999 or 112
for emergency calls for police, fire or ambulance service
Bank notes in the UK come in denominations (values) of
£5, £10, £20
and
£50
.
lnterest rates in credit unions are usually
lower
than banks and building
societies
You must register your baby with the Registrar of Births, Marriages and
Deaths (Register Office) within
six weeks
of the birth.
A colour TV licence currently costs
£131.50
(2006) and lasts for
12
months. People aged
75
, or over can apply for a free TV licence. Blind
people can claim a
50%
discount on their TV licence
You can ask advice from your health visitor until your child is
five
years
old
At present, universities can charge up to
£3,OOO
per year for their tuition
fees
Most students get a
low
-interest student loan from a bank
If you have a Iicence from a country outside the EU, you may use it in the
UK for up to
12
months.
Most employees who are
16
or over are entitled to at least
four
weeks,
paid holiday every year. This includes time for national holidays
In case of unfair dismissal from job, to claim compensation, you should
contact employment tribunal with in
three
months.
Women are entitled to at least
26
weeks' maternity leave. These rights
apply to full-time and part-time workers'and it makes no difference
howlong the woman has worked for her employer. However, maternity
pay depends on how long they have been working for their employer.
Fathers who have worked for their employer for at least
26
weeks are
entitled to paternity leave up to
two
weeks' time off from work, with pay,
when the child is born.
Minimum Wage Rates
(from October 2006)
aged 22 and above
£5.35 an hour
for 18 -21 year olds
£4.45 an hour
for 16 -17 year olds
£3.30 an hour
Who-is-Who
Who
is
Church of England
Anglican Church in other countries
Episcopal Church Scotland & USA
A Protestant church and has existed since the
Reformation in the 1530s
the church of the state in England (established
church)
Archbishop of
the spiritual leader of the Church of England
Canterbury
Head, or Supreme
The king or queen (the monarch)
Governor, of the
Church of England
established church
Presbyterian Church
in Scotland
Head of
Chief Moderator.
Presbyterian Church
in Scotland
Government Bodies
Work
the Metropolitan Police
Is the largest force which serves London
and is based at New Scotland Yard
the Police Service for Northern
Serves Northern Ireland
Ireland (PSNI)
The Independent Police
investigates serious complaints against the
Complaints Commission (or, in
police
Northern Ireland, the Police
Ombudsman)
Non_departmental public bodies
are indepent organisations that carry out
(quangos)
functions on behalf of the public which it
would be inappropriate to place under the
political control of a Cabinet minister
Housing associations
independent not-for-profit organisations
which provide housing for rent
The housing department of the
will give advice on homelessness and on
local authority
Housing Benefit as well as deal with
problems you may have in council-owned
property
The Citizens Advice Bureau
advice on all types of housing problems.
There may also be a housing advice centre
in your neighbourhood
Shelter
is a housing charity which runs a 24-hour
helpline on 08088004444, or visit
www.shelternet.org.uk
Department for Work and
Help with the cost of moving and setting up
Pensions (DWP).
home may be available from the Social
Fund. ). It provides grants and loans such
as the Community Care Grant for people
setting up home after being homeless or
after they have been in prison or other
institutions. Other loans are available for
people who have had an emergency such
as flooding. Information about these is
available at the Citizens Advice Bureau or
jobcentre Plus
Transco
To find out which company supplies your
gas
Energywatch
To find out which company supplies your
electricity
mediation organisations
help neighbours to solve their disputes
without having to go to court. You can get
details of mediation organisations from the
local authority, Citizens Advice, and
Mediation UK
Association of British Credit
To find the nearest credit union
Unions
The Family Planning Association
gives advice on contraception and sexual
(FPA)
health
local education authority
will give you information on schools in your
area
social security system
pays welfare benefits to people who do not
have enough money to live on.
National Health Service (NHS)
is one of the largest organisations in Europe.
It provides all residents with free healthcare
and treatment
Primary Health Care Centre
GPs working together in a group practice
GP
is responsible for organising the health
treatment you receive
NHS walk-in centres
provide treatment for minor injuries and
illnesses seven days a week. You do not
need an appointment.
National Trust
is a charity that works to preserve important
buildings and countryside in the UK.
Jobcentre Plus
run by a government department-the
Department for Work and Pensions
National Academic Recognition
compare other countries qualification with
Information Centre (NARIC)
qualifications in the UK
HM Revenue and Custom
the government department responsible for
collecting taxes
Conciliation and Arbitration
gives information on your rights at work.
Service (ACAS)
Business Link
a government-funded project for people
starting or running a business
Points to Remember
Religions in the UK
Percentage
Christian (10% of whom are Roman
71.60%
Catholic)
Muslim
2.70%
Hindu
1%
Sikh
0.60%
Jewish
0.50%
Buddhist
0.30%
Other
0.30%
Total
77%
No religion
15.50%
Not Stated
7.30%
UK population 2005
Percentage
Million
England
84%
50.1
Scotland
8%
5.1
Wales
5%
2.9
N. Ireland
3%
1.7
Total UK
59.8
Proportion of ethnic minority groups in the countries of the UK
England
9%
Scotland
2%
Wales
2%
Northern Ireland
less than 1%
London
45% (where they form nearly one-third of the population
(29%)
UK population 2001
In Million Percentage
White (including people of European, Australian,
54.2
92%
American descent)
Mixed
0.7
1.2%
Asian or Asian British Indian
1.1
1.8%
Pakistani
0.7
1.3%
Bangladeshi
0.3
0.5%
Black Caribbean
0.6
1.0%
Black African
0.5
0.8%
Black Other
0.1
0.2%
Chinese
0.2
0.4%
Other
0.2
0.4%
Elected
Parliament
Place
Setup
Members
Members
Scotland
MSPs
Scottish
Holyrood in
1999
129
Parliament
Edinburgh
Northern
MLAs
Northern Ireland
Stormont, in
1999
108
Ireland
Assembley
Belfast
Wales
AMs
Welsh
Senedd in
1999
60
Assembley
Cardiff Bay
England
MP
Total
646
European
Council of
European
Strasbourg, in
Commision
Ministers
Parliament
north-eastern
(based in
(The
France, and in
Brussels, the
council of
Brussels
capital city of
the
Belgium)
European
Union)
Aim
Members
Setup
Common
to promote
53 member
25th March
Wealth
democracy,
states
1957
good
government and
to eradicate
poverty.
The European
to function as a
was set up by 6
Union (EU)
single market
Western Europen
countries, now 27
member
countries
The United
to prevent war
Over 190
after 2nd world
Nations (UN)
and promote
countries, 15
war
international
members in UN
peace and
Security Council,
security
5 permanent
members
The Council of Europe
has no power to make laws
draws up conventions and
charters which focus on
human rights, democracy,
education, the
environment, health and
culture . The most
important of these is the
European Convention on
human Rights
The European
is the civil service of the EU
drafts proposals for new
Commission
EU policies and laws and
administers its funding
programmes
The European
it has the power to refuse
examines decisions made
Parliament
agreement to European laws
by the European Council
proposed by the Commission
and the European
and to check on the spending
commission,
of EU funds
The Council of the
is effectively the governing
The Council of Ministers
European Union (
the
body of the EU. It is the
passes EU law on the
Council of Ministers)
legislative body of the EU.
recommendations of the
European Commission
and the European
Parliament
Nauru is a Special Member of common wealth
The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth
European Union was originally called the
European Economic
Community
(EEO, was set up by six Western European countries who
signed the Treaty of Rome on
25 March 1957
Originally the UK decided not to join EU this group and only became part
of the European Union in
1973
The Council of Europe was created in
1949
and the UK was one of the
founder members.
Grant
: to families on low incomes for their children's tuition fees.
Education Maintenance Allowances
: Young people from families with
low incomes can get financial help with their studies when they leave
school at 16.
policy and laws governing defence, foreign affairs, taxation and social
security all remain under central UK government control
jury
will decide whether person is innocent or guilty and, if guilty, the
judge
will decide on the penalty
Citizens of the UK, the Commonwealth and the Irish Republic (if resident
in the UK) can vote in all public elections. Citizens of EU states who are
resident in the UK can vote in all elections except national parliamentary
(general) elections.
Problem at work : contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) or Law
Centre. The national Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
social security system pays welfare benefits to people who do not have
enough money to live on. Benefits are usually available for the sick and
disabled, older people, the unemployed and those on low incomes
You can get a list of local GPs from libraries, post offices, the tourist
information office, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the local Health Authority
You can get the name of a dentist by asking at the local library, at the
Citizens Advice Bureau and through NHS Direct
You can get information on maternity and ante-natal services in your area
from your local health authority, a health visitor or your Gp.
If you need advice about going into hospital, contact Customer Services or
the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital where you
will receive treatment
You can get the name of a dentist by asking at the local library, at the
Citizens Advice Bureau and through NHS Direc
You can get information on maternity and ante-natal services in your area
from your local health authority, a health visitor or your Gp
Many people go to university after A levels (or Higher grades in Scotland)
at age 18 but it is also possible to go to university later in life.
Vaccinations and medical treatm ent for animals are available from
veterinary surgeons (vets)
If your driving licence is from a country in the European Union (EU),
Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you can drive in the UK for as long as
your licence is valid.
Learner Driver must put L plates on the vehicle, or D plates in Wales. In
Northern Ireland, a newly-qualified driver must display an R-Plate (for
registered driver) for one year after passing the test
If the work involves working with children or vulnerable people, the
employer will ask for your permission to do a criminal record check.
In Northern Ireland, the law also bans discrimination on grounds of
religious belief or political opinion.
You can get more information about the law and racial discrimination from
the Commission for Racial Equality. The Equal Opportunities Commission
can help with sex discrimination issues and the Disability Rights
Commission deals with disability issues. Each of these organisations
offers advice and information and can, in some cases, support individuals.
From October 2007 their functions will be brought together in a new
Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Both employers and employees have legal responsibilities at work.
Employers have a legal duty to make sure the workplace is safe.
Employees also have a legal duty to follow safety regulations and to work
safely and responsibly.
Money raised from income tax pays for government services such as
roads, education, police and the armed forces
Money raised from NI contributions is used to pay contributory benefits
such as the State Retirement Pension and helps fund the National Health
Service
The amount of redundancy pay money you receive depends on the length
oftime you have been employed
British citizens can work in any country that is a member of the European
Economic Area (EEA).ln general, they have the same employment rights
as a citizen of that country or state.
posted by Jiggs at
04:29
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