The Speaker is neutral and does not represent a political party, even though he or she is an MP, represents a constituency and deals with constituents’ problems like any other MP.

In 1913, the British government promised ‘Home Rule’ for Ireland. The proposal was to have a self-governing Ireland with its own parliament but still part of the UK. A Home Rule Bill was introduced in Parliament. It was opposed by the Protestants in the north of Ireland, who threatened to resist Home Rule by force.

In 1997 the Labour Party led by Tony Blair was elected. The Blair government introduced a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly (now known as the Senedd)

The Proms is an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music that takes place in various venues, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. It has been organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) since 1927. The Last Night of the Proms is the most well-known concert and (along with others in the series) is broadcast on television.

The money raised from National Insurance Contributions is used to pay for state benefits and services such as the state retirement pension and the National Health Service (NHS).

Volunteering is working for good causes without payment. There are many benefits to volunteering, such as meeting new people helping make your community a better place.

Most people live in towns and cities but much of Britain is still countryside.

The first farmers arrived in Britain about 6,000 years ago. The ancestors of these first farmers probably came from south-east Europe. These people built houses, tombs and monuments on the land.

British values are reflected in the responsibilities, rights and privileges of being a British citizen or permanent resident of the UK.

There are 15 members on the UN Security Council, which recommends action when there are international crises and threats to peace. The UK is one of five permanent members of the Security Council.

The Elizabethan period is also remembered for the richness of its poetry and drama, especially the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.

Actors such as Sir Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Sir Rex Harrison and Richard Burton starred in a wide variety of popular films.

The Royal Navy stopped slave ships from other countries, freed the slaves and punished the slave traders.

Local authorities provide a range of services in their areas. They are funded by money from central government and by local taxes.

Bobby Moore captained the English football team that won the World Cup in 1966.

In Ireland, many depended on potatoes as a large part of their diet. In the middle of the century the potato crop failed, and Ireland suffered a famine. A million people died from disease and starvation.

In Northern Ireland, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne (when William III defeated James |I at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690) in July is a public holiday.

Located on the north-east coast of Northern Ireland, the Giant’s Causeway is a land formation of columns made from volcanic lava.

In the years leading up to 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a series of poems in English about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage.

The UK is a parliamentary democracy with the monarch as head of state.

There is a strong tradition of musical theatre in the UK. More recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber has written the music for shows which have been popular throughout the world, including, in collaboration with Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, and also Cats and The Phantom of the Opera.

In Scotland, most civil dispute matters are dealt with in the Sheriff Court. More serious civil cases - for example, when a large amount of compensation is being claimed - are dealt with in the Court of Session in Scotland.

In the late 1960s, the government passed new laws to restrict immigration to Britain. Immigrants were required to have a strong connection to Britain through birth or ancestry.

Charles Il had no legitimate children. He died in 1685 and his brother, James, who was a Roman Catholic, became King James II in England, Wales and Ireland and King James VIl of Scotland.