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Last updated: 06 May 2009
This chapter gives you some general information about Cabinet.
The Cabinet is the committee at the centre of the British political system and is the supreme decision-making body in British Government.
It is chaired by the Prime Minister [External website] and its members include Secretaries of State from all departments, as well as a small number of other Ministers.
The Cabinet usually meets once a week in 10 Downing Street, normally on a Thursday morning, in the Cabinet room [External website].
Its agenda includes regular items on Parliamentary Business, Domestic and Foreign Affairs (including European affairs) and, as necessary, topical issues of the day.
The Cabinet Secretary (Sir Gus O'Donnell) is responsible for the smooth running of Cabinet meetings and for preparing records of its discussions and decisions. The Cabinet Secretary, along with the Deputy Secretaries, will write, circulate and store the conclusions from Cabinet meetings.
For those involved with the preparations for Cabinet please see the section called Clearing Policy through Cabinet.