The House of Lords is normally more independent of the government than the House of Commons.

A non-UK national living in the UK and looking for work, starting work or setting up as self-employed will need a National Insurance number.

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. covers 720 square miles (1,865 square kilometres) in the west of Scotland. Loch Lomond is the largest expanse of freshwater in mainland Britain and probably the best-known part of the park.

The Monarch is the head of the Church of England. The spiritual leader of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The queen of Scotland, Mary Stuart (often now called ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’) was a Catholic. She was only a week old when her father died and she became queen. Much of her childhood was spent in France.

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.

A process began which became known as the ‘Highland Clearances. Many Scottish landlords destroyed individual small farms (known as ‘crofts’) to make space for large flocks of sheep and cattle. Evictions became very common in the early 19th century. Many Scottish people left for North America at this time.

The BBC started radio broadcasts in 1922 and began the world’s first regular television service in 1936.

Although Britain is one of the world’s most diverse societies, there is a set of shared values and responsibilities that everyone can agree with.

Britain has produced many great designers, from Thomas Chippendale (who designed furniture in the 18th century) to Clarice Cliff (who designed Art Deco ceramics) to Sir Terence Conran (a 20th-century interior designer).

James Il’s elder daughter, Mary, was married to her cousin William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands. In 1688, important Protestants in England asked William to invade England and proclaim himself king.

The UK today is a more diverse society than it was 100 years ago, in both ethnic and religious terms.

In 1815, the French Wars ended with the defeat of the Emperor Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellington was known as the Iron Duke and later became Prime Minister.

Following the Black Death, the smaller population meant there was less need to grow cereal crops. There were labour shortages and peasants began to demand higher wages. New social classes appeared, including owners of large areas of land (later called the gentry), and people left the countryside to live in the towns. In the towns, growing wealth led to the development of a strong middle class.

George Frederick Handel (1695-1759) wrote the oratorio, Messiah, which is sung regularly by choirs, often at Easter time.

Richard Austen Butler oversaw the introduction of the Education Act 1944 (often called ‘The Butler Act’), which introduced free secondary education in England and Wales.

Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. They also include people nominated by the leaders of the other main political parties or by an independent Appointments Commission for non-party peers.

There has been a Welsh Assembly (now called the Senedd) and a Scottish Parliament since 1999. There is also a Northern Ireland Assembly (established soon after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998) since 1999, although this has been suspended on a few occasions.

Parts of Hadrian’s Wall, including the forts of Housesteads and Vindolanda, can still be seen.

The countries that make up the UK all have flowers which are particularly associated with them and which are sometimes worn on national saints’ days. In Northern Ireland, it is the shamrock.

Good citizens are an asset to the UK. The UK welcomes those seeking to make a positive contribution to our society.

In 1996, two British scientists, Sir lan Wilmut (1944-) and Keith Campbell (1954-2012), led a team which was the first to succeed in cloning a mammal, Dolly the sheep. This has led to further research into the possible use of cloning to preserve endangered species and for medical purposes.

Magistrates decide the verdict in each case that comes before them and, if the person is found guilty, the sentence that they are given.

A Formula 1 Grand Prix event is held in the UK each year and a number of British Grand Prix drivers have won the Formula 1 World Championship. Recent British winners include Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.