Britain: An official handbook > 1956

GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
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a time). The two branches of the Revenue remained distinct until 1909, when
they were amalgamated under Commissioners of Customs and Excise. The
primary work of the Customs and Excise Department is to collect and administer
the duties of Customs and Excise imposed from time to time in the annual Finance
Acts or by other legislation, and to advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer on
any matters connected with them. The Department is also responsible for prevent¬
ing and detecting evasion of the Revenue laws, including smuggling and illicit
distillation.
In addition to its revenue work the Department undertakes a wide range of
non-revenue agency work for other Departments, e.g., the enforcement of prohibi¬
tions and restrictions on the importation and exportation of certain classes of goods,
exchange currency control, and the compilation of United Kingdom oversea trade
statistics from Customs import and export documents.
The Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence was formally constituted in January 1947 following the
passing of the Ministry of Defence Act, 1946. The Act charges the Minister with
the responsibility for ‘ the formulation and general application of a unified policy
relating to the armed forces of the Crown as a whole and their requirements ’. He
carries out this responsibility in accordance with general defence policy laid down
by the Cabinet.
In addition to its main function of co-ordinating the policies and requirements of
the three armed Services, the Ministry is responsible for the administration of
certain inter-service organizations, such as Amphibious Warfare Headquarters, the
Joint Intelligence Bureau and the Imperial Defence College.
The Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education was established in 1944 to take over the powers and
duties previously exercised by the Board of Education (1899-1944) in regard to
the promotion of.the education of the people of England and Wales and of the
progressive development of institutions devoted to that purpose. The Ministry
exercises this function in co-operation with the local education authorities—the
councils of the counties and of the county boroughs—whose duty it is to secure
the provision in their areas of adequate facilities for all forms of education. On
professional matters, contact with the local education authorities is maintained
through Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Schools, organized in regional divisions
throughout England and Wales for its work of inspection, liaison and advice. A
separate Welsh Department of the Ministry deals with education in Wales.
The Ministry is concerned with the development of primary, secondary and
further education, including vocational education and education for leisure and
the social and physical training of young people. It deals with the supply, training
and superannuation of teachers; the building of new schools and other institutions;
the school health service; the special educational treatment of handicapped children;
and the provision of school meals and milk. It is responsible for the award of State
scholarships and other awards for university students; for the administration of
certain museums; and for the maintenance of educational relations with the
countries of the Commonwealth, with foreign countries, and with the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The Imperial Institute, which was founded in 1893, has since 1949 been the
responsibility of the Minister of Education. The Institute houses permanent
exhibitions of the peoples and products of the Commonwealth, shows films on