Communities and Local Government, Department for

UK government department formed in July 2001 as part of the Cabinet Office, originally with the title Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), as it was then headed by the deputy prime minister, John Prescott. In May 2002, the ODPM became a separate department after absorbing the local government and regions portfolios from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which was abolished and replaced by the Department for Transport. In May 2006, the name DCLG was adopted after the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, became a ‘minister without portfolio’ and Ruth Kelly became the new secretary of state for communities and local government. She was then replaced in June 2007 by Hazel Blears. The department has two ministers of state and three parliamentary undersecretaries, and is responsible for: building regulations; civil resilience; the fire service in the UK; homelessness; housing; local government; neighbourhood renewal; planning; the government offices in the nine regions of England; social exclusion; sustainable communities; and urban policy. DCLG also oversees the Commission on Integration and Cohesion and the Commission for Equalities and Human Rights.