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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Home Office
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(London SW1) Government department with a somewhat miscellaneous group of responsibilities in England and Wales, including police and prisons, immigration, fire and civil emergency services, and the relationship between church and monarch and state. There has been a home secretary since 1782, when the work of the two *secretaries of state was reorganized to make one responsible for home affairs (which at the time included Ireland and the colonies) and the other for foreign affairs. All the new departments in the subsequent growth of government have taken over tasks previously done (if done at all) by the home secretary, whose present responsibilities are largely whatever happens to be left.
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