The Privy Council Office

Head:

Lord President of the Council.

Post Currently Held By:

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson.

Role:

The Privy Council Office is the smallest autonomous Government department with fewer than 50 staff. Senior Ministers are appointed Privy Counsellors for life, but only those of the Government of the day participate in its policy work.

The Privy Council Office deals with:

Secretariat services for the Privy Council.
The affairs of Chartered Bodies - more than 400 institutions, companies and charities who are incorporated by Royal Charter.
Statutory regulatory bodies, covering certain professions and also of higher education.
The Judicial Committee - the final Court of Appeal for a number of Commonwealth countries, and also of medical and veterinary disciplinary bodies.
The administration of the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, and their Deputy.