Life in the UK Test
Sign in
Back to The UK Government, the Law and Your Role

Cabinet posts

Study note

The Prime Minister appoints senior ministers to take charge of the main areas of government, and together these ministers form the Cabinet. Each has a different area of responsibility, and it is worth learning the most important roles, because the test often asks who is in charge of what.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy and the country's finances. The Home Secretary is in charge of crime, policing and immigration. The Foreign Secretary deals with relations with other countries. There are other Cabinet posts too, such as those covering health, education and defence. The Speaker, by contrast, is not a Cabinet minister, because the Speaker is neutral and chairs the Commons. For the test, link the Chancellor to the economy, the Home Secretary to crime, policing and immigration, and the Foreign Secretary to relations abroad.

Memory tip: Chancellor = the economy; Home Secretary = crime/policing/immigration; Foreign Secretary = abroad.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 5

Which Cabinet minister is responsible for the economy?

Score so far: 0 / 0
Show all questions and answers for Cabinet posts(5 questions with explanations)

Cabinet posts: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Which Cabinet minister is responsible for the economy?

    • The Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • The Speaker
    • The Foreign Secretary
    • The Home Secretary

    Correct answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer is in charge of the economy and public finances.

  2. 2. Which Cabinet minister is responsible for crime, policing and immigration?

    • The Home Secretary
    • The Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • The Lord Mayor
    • The Foreign Secretary

    Correct answer: The Home Secretary

    The Home Secretary is responsible for crime, policing and immigration.

  3. 3. Which Cabinet minister deals with relations with other countries?

    • The Speaker
    • The Foreign Secretary
    • The Home Secretary
    • The Chancellor of the Exchequer

    Correct answer: The Foreign Secretary

    The Foreign Secretary is responsible for relations with other countries.

  4. 4. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The Home Secretary is in charge of the economy
    • The Chancellor of the Exchequer is in charge of the economy

    Correct answer: The Chancellor of the Exchequer is in charge of the economy

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the economy and public finances.

  5. 5. Which of these is NOT a Cabinet role?

    • The Foreign Secretary
    • The Home Secretary
    • The Chancellor of the Exchequer
    • The Speaker

    Correct answer: The Speaker

    The Speaker chairs the Commons and is politically neutral, not a Cabinet minister.

Back to The UK Government, the Law and Your Role, or try a mock test or timed exam.