Industrial regions of Scotland

Physically Scotland is divided into 3 structural regions:

1. The Highlands

2. The Central Lowlands

3. The Southern Uplands

The Highlands

Occupy the northern part of the country, is high ground deeply trenched with valleys and lochs. The Highlands are the oldest mountains in the world. The highest point is Ben Nevis in the southwest (4,406 feet=1343 m.).

Grey or red granite is widely distributed here. The Highlands are not rich in minerals (a few iron and coal). The population concentrates principally on hill-sheep farming, growing cerals and potatoes. Aberdeen is the principal port for the export of herring and white-fish, transportation of oil.

Transport services and trade. Dairy-farming and cheese-making are of great importance. This region is rich in peat.

The Central Lowlands

The Central Lowlands is densely populated (2/3 of Scotland). Main city is Glasgow - leading, distributing centre and chief port. Heavy industries: ship-building, making of iron, steel, marine, aero-engines, road-vehicles, machine tools and other metal products. Light industries: textiles, hosiery, linen, cottons, woolen carpets, booking, printing industry, jam and marmalade making, production of linoleum and oil-cloth. Intensive farming: growing barley, wheat, potatoes, pig and poultry farms.

Edinburgh is a banking, insurance, educational (university since 1582) centre.

Industries: rubber, baking and milling.

The Southern Uplands

Consists of high ground, the Cheviot Hills are based on volcanic rocks and granite.

Grazing has been practiced in this region for a long time. Black face sheep are kept on the moorland for their mutton. Cheviot sheep are typical of the best hill lands and kept for their wool. There is some coal-mining in Nithsdale. Dumfries is the textile centre embrace knitted garments for home and foreign markets.

The climate position of Scotland make it possible for marine traffic and commercial activities to go on all times.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is the smallest component of the United Kingdom. It occupies the northeast of the island of Ireland. For seven centuries Ireland was a colony of Britain. As a result of the hard struggle of the Irish people for independence the larger part of Ireland (26 counties) gained the status of a British dominion in 1921. In 1949 it was officially proclaimed and independent state, the Irish Free State Eire.

The Industrial northeast (Northern Ireland with its 6 counties) was retained by Great Britain as its smallest component. But certain forces of both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland are for the reunification of the country.

The population of Northern Ireland is about 1,5 million people, 53 % of the population live in towns. The economy is closely integrated with the economy of Great Britain. It has roots in 3 basic industries - agriculture, textiles and ship-building. The largest industry is agriculture, it occupies 72 % of all lands. The symbol of Northern Ireland is a shamrock. Belfast the capital of the Northern Ireland is the leading industrial centre and a large port (Salmon fishing export). Northern Ireland produces vehicle components, oil-well equipment, electronic instruments, telephones, toys, shoes, synthetic rubber, ropes, linen, different food, tobacco, drinks, jam-making, fruit-canning. Chief agricultural exports are: cattle, poultry, eggs, bacon, milk products, potatoes, apples, flax, cereal crops.

Educational system of the UK

All British children must stay at school from the age of 5 until they are 16 (compulsory education). Many of them stay longer, take final examinations when they are 17 or 18 to enter college or university: A-Level Programme.

State schools are divided into the following types:

1).Grammar schools: programme includes academic subjects and technical courses.

2).Technical schools: technical and commercial courses.

3).Modern schools: standard programme and practical courses to learn some trade.

4).Comprehensive schools (most of all) combine all types of secondary education, they have physics, chemistry, biology laboratories, the machine workshops for metal and wood works, geography, history and art departments, commercial and domestic courses.

Children don't have to pass an exam to go there.

Private schools charge fees for education, many of them are boarding schools at which pupils live during the term time.

Higher education in the UK

There are about 90 universities in Britain. They are divided into 3 types:

1. Old (Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh)

2. The 19th century universities (London, Manchester)

3. New universities (Exeter, Bournemouth)

Full courses of study offer the degree of Bachelor of Arts of Science. Most degree courses last 3 years, language courses 4 years (including a year spent abroad). Medicine and dentistry are longer 5-7 years. Students may receive grants from their Local Education Authority to help pay for books, accommodation, transport and food, this grant depends on the income of their parents. There are about 350 colleges and institutes of higher education.

Basic features of Public Education:

1). Different educational programmes in different parts of the UK.

2). Class divided-and-selective education.

3). A lot of opportunities offered to school children.

The Nation Education Act of 1944 provided 3 stages of education: Primary, Secondary and further.

Education in Britain

class	school	age
	Nursery schools playgroup or kindergarten	3 4
Reception class Year 1	Infant school	5 6
Year 2 3 4 5 6	Primary schools Junior school	7 8 9 10 11
Year 7 8 9 10 11	Secondary school	12 13 14 15 16
Year 12 13	Sixth form college	17 18
First year (fresher) Second year Third (final) year	University of Polytechnic	19 20 21-22
Post graduate	University	23

Political system of the UK

The UK is a constitutional monarchy. It means that Great Britain is governed by the Parliaments and the Queen is Head of the State (formally). The Legislative Power is exercised by the Houses of the Parliament. It consists of two Chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The real power belongs to the British Parliament.

The House of Lords can offer change and delay laws. The House of Commons makes laws about all sides of live in the country. The Executive power is exercised by Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The government is usually formed by the politied party which is supported by the majority in the House of Commons. Prime Minister is the majority party leader and is appointed by the Queen. Prime Minister chooses a team of ministers, twenty of ministers are in the Cabinet.

The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The two leading parties in Great Britain are Conservative Party (the Tories and the Labour Party). The judiciary branch of the government determines common law and is independent of both the legislative and the executive branches. There is no written constitution in G.B. only precedents and traditions.

The House of Lords with about 830 hereditary peers. 650 elected members in the House of Commons every 5 years.

Royal London

Many places in London are closely connected with the Crown. There are royal places, royal parks, roads and streets where beautiful ceremonies are held. The most important building is Buckingham Palace, which is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth 2. The Mall, a wide avenue used for royal processions runs from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace through St. James Park.

There are 10 royal parks in and around London which are owned by the Crown. They are open to the public free of charge. Each park has its own character: Hyde Park, for example, used to be a hunting forest. And is now the home of London Zoo, and an open-air theatre which gives performances of Shakespeare's plays in summers.

The Royal family plays a very important role in the country. In the history of Britain there were certain kings and queens whose names are specially remembered in the country and are well-known in the whole world. One of them was King Henry 8 (1491-1547). Most people remembered him only because he had six wives. But in fact he was a very important monarch. Under him Britain became independent of the Roman Catholic Church, it got richer and more powerful. In 1534 the Parliament named Henry the head of the Church of England and gave the King all power in the country. Henry's daughter, Elizabeth (1533-1603) became the Queen in 1558. She never married and is remembered as a very popular and strong queen. She is known for saying: "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King...". During her reign England became very important in European politics, the Spanish Armada was defeated, arts and especially theatre developed, and the country became very powerful.

Another strong queen was Queen Victoria (1819-1901) whose monument you can see in front of Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria came to the throne as a young woman in 1837 and reigned until her death in 1901. She ruled for the longest period in the English history for 64 years! Victoria married a German, Prince Albert, but he died at the age of 42 in 1861. That was a great tragedy for Queen Victoria. She left London and never lived in the city where she had been so happy with her husband and 9 children (5 sons and 4 daughters). But there are places in London that remind us of their love. The Royal Albert Hall - a very large concert hall where the best musicians of the world perform classical music. In front of the Albert Hall there is a monument to Prince Albert built by Queen Victoria.

Another place is the Victoria and Albert Museum with its rich collections of paintings and another works of art. During her reign Britain became a rich-industrial country with a developed trade, and empire with a lot of colonies.

Queen Victoria's granddaughter Elizabeth 2 is on the British Throne now. The Queens title in the U.K. is Elizabeth the second, by the Grace of God, of the U.K. of G.B. and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Common wealth, Defender of the Faith e.t.c, e.t.c, e.t.c.

Elizabeth 2

Father: The Duke of York, later King George VI

Mother: Mary, the duchess of York.

Childhood

• Was born in Windsor on 21 April 1926

• Full name: Elizabeth-Mary-Alexander Windsor

• Pet name: Lilibet

• Educated at home, taught to read and write by her parents. Studied Latin, Geography, Economy, Music

• Knew foreign languages, spoke French well

• Good at horse riding, dancing, swimming, took part in swimming competitions

• Lived in Windsor and Buckingham Palace with her parents

Young Lady

• Made her first speech on the radio in 1940 during the World War II

• Helped to the army: grew vegetables, knitted socks for soldiers.

• Learned to drive

• Married Prince Philip in 1947

• Prince Charles was born in 1948 (the first son)

Young Queen

• Came to the throne in 1952

• Was crowned in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953

• Made her first Christmas speech to the nation in 1957, now the speech is traditional

Now

• Travels a lot

• Has 4 children: Prince Charles - Princess Ann (1950), Prince Andrew (1960), Prince Edward (1964).

• Has 5 official residences in Britain, Buckingham Palace and Windsor among them