The four countries
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set side by side — saints, flowers, capitals, parliaments, courts and churches — plus what 'Great Britain' leaves out.
Almost nobody fails here for not knowing the facts; they fail for attaching the right fact to the wrong country — the wrong saint, the wrong flower, the wrong member count.
78 entries
Patron saints and their days
| Country | Patron saint | Saint's day | A public holiday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | St George | 23 April | No; patron saints' days are no longer public holidays in England and Wales, but parades and small festivals are still held all over the two countriesReligion |
| Scotland | St Andrew | 30 November | Yes, an official holiday, though in Scotland not all businesses and offices will closeReligion |
| Wales | St David | 1 March | No; patron saints' days are no longer public holidays in England and Wales, but parades and small festivals are still held all over the two countriesReligion |
| Northern Ireland | St Patrick | 17 March | Yes, an official holidayReligion |
National flowers and traditional food
The national flowers are sometimes worn on national saints' days.
| Country | National flower | Traditionally associated with |
|---|---|---|
| England | The rose | Roast beef, served with potatoes, vegetables and Yorkshire puddings (batter that is baked in the oven); fish and chips are also popularLeisure |
| Scotland | The thistle | Haggis, a sheep's stomach stuffed with offal, suet, onions and oatmealLeisure |
| Wales | The daffodil | Welsh cakes, a snack made from flour, dried fruits and spices and served either hot or coldLeisure |
| Northern Ireland | The shamrock | The Ulster fry, a fried meal with bacon, eggs, sausage, black pudding, white pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, soda bread and potato breadLeisure |
'Great Britain' and 'the United Kingdom'
- The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is an independent country.What is the UK?
- The official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.What is the UK?
- 'Great Britain' refers only to England, Scotland and Wales — not to Northern Ireland.What is the UK?
- The UK is governed by the parliament sitting in Westminster.What is the UK?
- The handbook uses the distinction in passing: Bonfire Night, 5 November, is when people in Great Britain set off fireworks at home or in special displays.Customs and traditions
Linked to the UK, but not part of it
- The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are closely linked with the UK but are not part of it. They have their own governments and are called Crown dependencies.What is the UK?
- British overseas territories, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands, are also linked to the UK but are not part of it.What is the UK?
Capitals, languages and people
The notes name a capital city only for Scotland and Wales.
| Country | Capital city | Languages besides English | Share of the UK population | Banknotes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | — | — | 84% of the UK population | —The UK today / Cities of the UK |
| Scotland | Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland | Gaelic, again a different language, is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands; Scotland has a channel with programmes in the Gaelic language | Just over 8% of the UK population | Has its own banknotes, which are valid everywhere in the UK, although shops and businesses do not have to accept themThe government (part 1)The UK today / Cities of the UKLeisure |
| Wales | Cardiff, the capital city of Wales | Many people speak Welsh, a completely different language from English, and it is taught in schools and universities; Wales has a Welsh-language channel | Around 5% of the UK population | —The government (part 1)The UK today / Cities of the UKLeisure |
| Northern Ireland | — | Some people speak Irish Gaelic, and some programmes specific to Northern Ireland are broadcast in Irish Gaelic | Less than 3% of the UK population | Has its own banknotes, which are valid everywhere in the UK, although shops and businesses do not have to accept themThe UK today / Cities of the UKLeisure |
Money and language across the UK
- The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, written with the symbol £, and there are 100 pence in a pound.The UK today / Cities of the UK
- UK banknotes are £5, £10, £20 and £50.The UK today / Cities of the UK
- The English language has many accents and dialects across the different parts of the UK.The UK today / Cities of the UK
The devolved bodies
England has no devolved body of its own; powers were devolved to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| Country | Devolved body | Members are called | How many | What it can decide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | — | — | — | —The government (part 1) |
| Scotland | The Scottish Parliament, formed in 1999 | Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of proportional representation | 129 | Laws for Scotland on all matters which are not specifically reserved to the UK Parliament, including civil and criminal law, health, education, planning and additional tax-raising powersThe government (part 1) |
| Wales | The Welsh Assembly, now called the Senedd; there has been one since 1999 | Members of the Senedd (MSs), elected every four years using a form of proportional representation | 60 | Laws for Wales in 21 areas, including education and training, health and social services, economic development and housing; since 2011 without the agreement of the UK ParliamentThe government (part 1) |
| Northern Ireland | The Northern Ireland Assembly, established soon after the Belfast Agreement (or Good Friday Agreement) in 1998; it has been suspended on a few occasions | MLAs, members of the Legislative Assembly, elected with a form of proportional representation | 90 | Issues such as education, agriculture, the environment, health and social servicesThe government (part 1) |
Where the devolved bodies meet
| Country | Where its elected members meet |
|---|---|
| England | —The government (part 2) |
| Scotland | The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood, in EdinburghThe government (part 2) |
| Wales | The Senedd building in Cardiff BayThe government (part 2) |
| Northern Ireland | The Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, in BelfastThe government (part 2) |
What is devolved, and what is not
- Since 1997 some powers have been devolved from central government to give people in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland more control over matters that directly affect them.The government (part 1)
- Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.What is the UK?
- Defence, foreign affairs, social security and most taxation remain under central UK government control.The government (part 1)
- Many other public services, such as education, are controlled by the devolved administrations, and each devolved administration has its own civil servants.The government (part 1)
- Members of the Senedd can speak in either Welsh or English, and all of the Senedd's publications are in both languages.The government (part 1)
- A power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland distributes ministerial offices amongst the main parties.The government (part 1)
- 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.The government (part 1)
- The UK government has the power to suspend all devolved assemblies, and has used this power several times in Northern Ireland.The government (part 1)
Criminal courts
| Country | Minor criminal cases | Serious criminal cases | Jury | Verdicts | Cases against 10- to 17-year-olds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | A Magistrates' Court. Magistrates are members of the local community, usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications | Tried in front of a judge and a jury in a Crown Court | 12 members, chosen at random from the local electoral register | 'Guilty' or 'not guilty' | Normally a Youth Court, in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge; the most serious cases go to the Crown CourtThe role of the courts |
| Scotland | A Justice of the Peace Court. Justices of the Peace are members of the local community, usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications | A Sheriff Court, with either a sheriff or a sheriff with a jury; the most serious cases, such as murder, are heard at a High Court with a judge and jury | 15 members, chosen at random from the local electoral register | 'Guilty', 'not guilty', or a third verdict of 'not proven' | The Children's Hearings SystemThe role of the courts |
| Wales | A Magistrates' Court. Magistrates are members of the local community, usually work unpaid and do not need legal qualifications | Tried in front of a judge and a jury in a Crown Court | 12 members, chosen at random from the local electoral register | 'Guilty' or 'not guilty' | Normally a Youth Court, in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge; the most serious cases go to the Crown CourtThe role of the courts |
| Northern Ireland | Heard by a District Judge or Deputy District Judge, who is legally qualified and paid | Tried in front of a judge and a jury in a Crown Court | 12 members, chosen at random from the local electoral register | 'Guilty' or 'not guilty' | Normally a Youth Court, in front of up to three specially trained magistrates or a District Judge; Northern Ireland also has a system of youth conferencingThe role of the courts |
Civil courts
| Country | Most civil disputes | More serious civil cases | Small claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | County Courts, for recovering money that is owed, personal injury, family matters, breaches of contract and divorce | The High Court | The small claims procedure, for claims of less than £10,000The role of the courts |
| Scotland | The Sheriff Court | The Court of Session, in Edinburgh | The small claims procedure, for claims of less than £3,000The role of the courts |
| Wales | County Courts, for recovering money that is owed, personal injury, family matters, breaches of contract and divorce | The High Court | The small claims procedure, for claims of less than £10,000The role of the courts |
| Northern Ireland | County Courts, for recovering money that is owed, personal injury, family matters, breaches of contract and divorce | The High Court | The small claims procedure, for claims of less than £3,000The role of the courts |
Churches
| Country | Established Church | Who leads it |
|---|---|---|
| England | The Church of England, a Protestant Church that has existed since the Reformation in the 1530s; in England there is a constitutional link between Church and state | The monarch is the head of the Church of England, and its spiritual leader is the Archbishop of Canterbury; several Church of England bishops sit in the House of LordsReligion |
| Scotland | The Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian Church governed by ministers and elders | The Moderator chairs its General Assembly, is appointed for one year only, and often speaks on behalf of that ChurchReligion |
| Wales | There is no established Church in Wales | —Religion |
| Northern Ireland | There is no established Church in Northern Ireland | —Religion |
Public holidays beyond the saints' days
| Country | Public holidays the notes single out |
|---|---|
| England | —Customs and traditions |
| Scotland | 2 January is also a public holiday; 31 December is called Hogmanay, and for some Scottish people Hogmanay is a bigger holiday than ChristmasCustoms and traditions |
| Wales | —Customs and traditions |
| Northern Ireland | The anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in July is also a public holidayCustoms and traditions |
Discrimination and the police
| Country | Discrimination is dealt with by | Complaints about the police go to |
|---|---|---|
| England | The Equality and Human Rights Commission | An independent body (www.policeconduct.gov.uk)Fundamental principlesThe UK and international institutions / Respecting the law |
| Scotland | The Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland, and the Scottish Human Rights Commission | The Police Investigations and Review CommissionerFundamental principlesThe UK and international institutions / Respecting the law |
| Wales | The Equality and Human Rights Commission | An independent body (www.policeconduct.gov.uk)Fundamental principlesThe UK and international institutions / Respecting the law |
| Northern Ireland | The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission | The Police Ombudsman's OfficeFundamental principlesThe UK and international institutions / Respecting the law |
Sport across the four countries
- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have separate football leagues in which clubs representing different towns and cities compete.Sport
- Each UK country has its own national football team, competing in tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Football Championships.Sport
- Both types of rugby, union and league, have separate leagues and national teams in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — and Northern Ireland plays with the Irish Republic.Sport
- The most famous rugby union competition is the Six Nations Championship, between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy.Sport
Other differences the notes single out
- Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 to 70 can be asked to do jury service; in England and Wales the range is 18 to 75.How you can support your community / Looking after the environment
- People vote at places called polling stations, or polling places in Scotland.The government (part 2)
- Northern Ireland uses a different system of voter registration, called 'individual registration', under which all those entitled to vote must complete their own registration form.The government (part 2)
- In Northern Ireland you also have to show photographic identification at the polling station.The government (part 2)
- In Northern Ireland, a newly qualified driver must display an 'R' plate (for restricted driver) for one year after passing the test.Driving / Your role in the community
- The National Trust keeps countryside and places of interest open in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; the National Trust for Scotland does the same in Scotland.Places of interest
- There are 15 national parks in England, Wales and Scotland.Places of interest