|
The United Kingdom (UK), is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland (across the Irish Sea). It is located in the Northern Hemisphere bordered on the West and North sides by the Atlantic Ocean, the East Side by the North Sea, and the South by the English Channel. Europe and in particular Denmark, Germany, Belgium and France are the countries in Europe across the North Sea from the East Coast of England. Calais in France, for instance, is just 35km from Dover across the North Sea, and is the closest point to the Continent of Europe. The English Channel borders the South Coast of England, and across the water is France. Ireland, across the Irish Sea if off the west of England.
London is the capital city of England. England (total area of approximately 245,000 km², or almost a quarter of a million square kilometres) is approximately the same size as New Zealand, and in fact the climate is similar in both countries (latitudes are similar), even though one is in the Northern Hemisphere and the other is in the Southern Hemisphere.
The country is rather flat and undulating along the East coast, whereas in the North (Scotland - Grampian mountains), the centre (England - Pennine Mountain range), and the west south west (Wales - the Welsh mountains), it is mountainous.
Three quarters of the land in Britain is used for farming.
Back to top
Britain is an island country and the surrounding sea gives it a varied climate. It is hard to be sure what the weather will be like from one day to the other. It can be sunny one day and rainy the next. With such a variable climate changing from day to day, it is difficult to predict the weather. In general the summers are warm and the winters cool. Summers are cooler than those on the continent, but the winters are milder.
Basically it is much colder in Scotland, with snow in the winter, than in the South of England. Snow in London (in the South) for instance may only last from 4 to 7 days annually. The towns along the South Coast are much warmer than on the East Coast, where it is often very windy across the flat countryside
Back to top
There are approximately 60,776,238 million people (July 2007 estimate) of many nationalities living in the UK, of which 50,763,000 live in England. The majority of the population is English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish. However, it is an extremely diverse nation with a strong culture of racial integration and unity.
Capital cities
London – England
Edinburgh – Scotland
Cardiff – Wales
Belfast – Northern Ireland
The capital city of London has approximately 7.4 million people living there, one seventh of the population of the UK. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the European Union.
Back to top
English and Welsh are the official languages of the UK. However, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there are many different dialects, which are sometimes not easy to hear clearly and understand for a stranger, and take some time to get used to.
Back to top
Most people are Christian (71%), although all other religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism are freely practised. About 23% of Britains do not follow any particular.
Back to top
The United Kingdom has a Monarchy, and Queen Elizabeth II is it’s head, and the Head of State. The Queen opens Parliament, which governs the country, and she officially offers the role of Prime Minister (Head of Government) to the successful candidate when his/her party has been voted in by the electorate. The Crown (and the Queen) have been represented throughout the British legal system at home and abroad, and the Crown is written into most areas of Government, i.e. Crown jurisdiction, Crown property, Offices of the Crown, Officers of the Crown etc.
The country is governed by Parliament (Houses of Parliament in Westminster in London). There is an Upper and a Lower House, the upper being the House of Lords, who oversee and have the final vote on all laws before they are passed. The Lower House is called the House of Commons, where all local representatives of the various towns and areas sit and propose and vote on laws.
The United Kingdom is one of 27 member states of the European Union.
Back to top
The United Kingdom has three distinct legal systems; English law, which applies in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland law, which applies in Northern Ireland, are based on common-law principles. Scots law, which applies in Scotland, is a pluralistic system based on civil-law principles, with common law elements dating back to the High Middle Ages. The Treaty of Union 1707 guaranteed the continued existence of a separate law system for Scotland.
The Appellate Committee of the House of Lords (usually just referred to, as "The House of Lords") is the highest court in the land for all criminal and civil cases in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and for all civil cases in Scots law. Recent constitutional changes will see the powers of the House of Lords transfer to a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
In England and Wales, the court system is headed by the Supreme Court of England and Wales, consisting of the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Justice (for civil cases) and the Crown Court (for criminal cases). In Scotland the chief courts are the Court of Session, for civil cases, and the High Court of Justiciary, for criminal cases, while the sheriff court is the Scottish equivalent of the county court.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is the highest court of appeal for several independent Commonwealth countries, the British overseas territories, and the British Crown dependencies. There are also immigration courts with UK-wide jurisdiction — the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal and Special Immigration Appeals Commission. The Employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal have jurisdiction throughout Great Britain, but not Northern Ireland.
Back to top
The health and social welfare system is part of everyone's life in Britain. It provides help for anyone who is raising a family or who is elderly, sick, disabled, unemployed, widowed or disadvantaged. Everyone at some point in their lives will receive help from its varied services, ranging from health checks for children, home help for disabled or elderly people or cash benefits to cover periods of unemployment.The three pillars of the health and social welfare system are:
The National Health Service - the health of the community is the responsibility of the NHS, free to everyone who normally lives in Britain.
The personal Social Services - provided by local authorities for elderly and disabled people, those with mental disorders and for families and their children.
Social Security - designed to secure a basic standard of living for people who are unemployed, help for families and help towards the cost of disablement.
These publicly-funded services are among the Government's top priorities, and account for about half of all government spending. They are supported by the work of a great many voluntary social and health care organisations, and by carers who look after members of their own family or friends.More than 90% of all health care in Britain is provided by the state through the NHS.
Back to top
Britain’s public provider of health care is known as the National Health Services (NHS). Services provided by the NHS include hospitals, family doctors, specialists, dentists, chemists, opticians and the ambulance service. The principal groups that the NHS provides free or subsidized medical treatment to are; those with the right of abode in Britain and who are currently resident in Britain (this excludes British citizens who are resident abroad); anyone who has been resident in the UK for the previous year; EU nationals; students (on courses longer than 6 months); anyone with a British work permit.
Nationals of countries with reciprocal health agreements with Britain are also entitled to treatment from the NHS, although exemption from charges is usually limited to emergency treatment. Countries with reciprocal agreements include: EEA nations, Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, New Zealand, Romania, Russia, St Helena, Switzerland, Turkey, and the Caicos Islands.
If you are not entitled to free or subsidised treatment from the NHS, you are strongly advised to take out some form of medical insurance to cover yourself against emergency medical treatment which can become extremely expensive.
Back to top
Education is a devolved matter and each of the four constituent countries of the UK has a separate education system, though England, Wales and Northern Ireland are very similar. Education (although not necessarily in the form of school attendance) is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5-16, though the UK Government announced in January 2007 plans to change this to 5 - 18 in England. Most English, Welsh and Northern Irish state (but not independent) schools usher students through nursery school, one of two primary school tracks, and one of two secondary tracks, of which sixth form is optional. Most children and young people in the UK are educated in state funded schools financed through the tax system and so parents do not pay directly for the cost of education.
Schools follow the National Curriculum which was introduced by the UK government under the Education Reform Act 1988. The National Curriculum includes the core subjects English, Mathematics, and Science. Welsh is also a core subject in Wales from primary school all the way to year 11: Welsh may be taken as a first language or a second language.
The National Curriculum has five 'key stages:'
- Key stage 1: age five to seven (Years 1 and 2)
- Key stage 2: age seven to eleven (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Key stage 3: age eleven to fourteen (Years 7, 8 and 9)
- Key stage 4: age fourteen to sixteen (Years 10 and 11 - preparation for academic GCSE and equivalent vocational qualifications GNVQ, BTEC, DIDA etc. )
- Key stage 5 (unofficial): age sixteen to eighteen (Years 12 and 13) - the A-level academic qualifications (AS and A2), also Higher GNVQ and BTEC qualifications, or sixth form college courses.
Back to top
Most forms of communication are available in the UK, for example Television (both Commercial & Cable); Radio; Telephone; Fax; Mobile Telephones & Texting; Internet and emailing; Broadband; VoIP etc etc. Newspapers and magazines are readily available throughout the country, and most of the major newspapers from around the world are on sale in Central London and other large cities.
Telephone accounts can be opened with one of the many companies operating in the UK (the biggest telephone company is British Telecom), or alternatively prepaid mobile telephones can be purchased. Many telephone boxes in the streets only accept a prepaid card, and not cash, and these cards are on sale at newsagents and many other outlets.
Among the many forms of transport in the UK are Airlines, Railways (internal & to the European Continent via the Channel Tunnel); Underground Railways in the major cities (usually the quickest way to travel in London); Ferries (freight, passenger and car, both intercontinental & local), Buses (suburban and intercity); Hire & Rental Cars; Taxis (coloured black); Helicopter; The London Eye (to experience a wonderful view over the city of London).
Back to top
All foreigners with driving licences issued outside the UK are allowed to drive in the UK for 12 months without obtaining a British driving licence. Driving in the UK is on the left hand side of the road. The national speed limit, on motorways and on dual carriageway (divided highway) roads outside towns, is 70 miles per hour (mph). The speed limit for single carriageway roads outside towns is 60 mph. The normal speed limit in built-up areas is 30 mph. Third party insurance is legally required in the UK.
For more information please visit - www.dvla.gov.uk.
Back to top
The voltage used in Britain is 240 Volts AC at 50HZ. Most power sockets are designed for standard 3-pin square plugs. Electrical appliances in Britain generally use the British standard plug with 3 square pins. Plug socket adaptors and power transformers are widely available, you can buy them at most airports, electrical shops and hardware stores.
The cost of living varies from one part of the UK to another. Generally it is more expensive to live in London and the South-East of England, and cheaper in the North.
Britain's currency is based on the pound sterling (GBP) which is divided into one hundred pence (100p). Coins are normally issued up to the value of GBP2.00.
|
What does it cost?
To give you an idea of living costs in the United Kingdom we give you below the average retail prices for a small range of household items. |
| Item |
Price |
| Carrots/kg |
0.71 |
| Bananas/kg |
0.93 |
| Sausages/kg |
3.67 |
| Eggs (half dozen) |
0.99 |
| Milk/4 pints |
1.11 |
| Butter/250g |
0.84 |
| Bread - Sliced Loaf/800g |
0.96 |
Return to top
The United Kingdom (UK) economy is about one-sixth the size of the U.S. economy, about half the size of Germany's, and vies with France for the position of the fourth largest economy in the world.
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation.
Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. Since emerging from recession in 1992, Britain's economy has enjoyed the longest period of expansion on record; growth has remained in the 2-3% range since 2004, outpacing most of Europe. The economy's strength has complicated the Labour government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and public opinion polls show a majority of Britons are opposed to the euro.
The unemployment rate is 5.4% (2007) and the GDP real growth rate was 2.9% in 2007.
Back to top
Tax on your worldwide income after 6 months of residency in the UK is payable in the UK to the Inland Revenue - branch offices are in most cities. Everyone resident in the United Kingdom is entitled to receive a certain amount of income each year before they have to start paying tax. This amount is called the personal allowance. There are also other additional allowances which can reduce the tax you have to pay. The amounts of the allowances are usually announced each year in the budget in March. Income tax code is a code given by HM Revenue and Customs, which shows what allowances an employee is getting under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. The code is usually a three figure number followed by a letter.
Back to top
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet dogs and cats from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules. It also means that people in the UK can take their dogs and cats to other European Union (EU) countries, and return with them to the UK. They can also, having taken their dogs and cats to certain non-EU countries, bring them back to the UK without the need for quarantine. The rules are to keep the UK free from rabies and certain other diseases.
The European regulation which sets the rules for dogs and cats to travel between European Community countries and into the Community from other countries also covers the movement of other pet animals such as rabbits and rodents.
The UK does not permit the import of dogs and cats have not been vaccinated against rabies. Before travelling, you must make sure that your pet cats and dogs (including assistance dogs) meets all the rules of the Scheme. Dogs and cats entering the UK under PETS may only do so on certain sea, air and rail routes. Dogs and cats entering the UK from non-qualifying (unlisted) countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival.
Return to Top
The cost of moving can be high and household items vary greatly in replacement value from country to country, so it is worth doing some research before deciding what to take and what to leave behind. In the case of many electrical and electronic items, differing standards may make it more worthwhile to purchase new ones.
For information on customs regulations visit - www.hmrc.gov.uk.
Return to Top
The total cost of importing a car to the United Kingdom, including compliance and re-registration is so high that unless your vehicle is very special it is seldom worthwhile.
For information on customs regulations visit - www.hmrc.gov.uk. For more information on registration etc visit www.dvla.gov.uk.
Return to Top
|
