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Department of Office Furniture (Getty Images)
Thanks to Laocoon for suggesting this tribute to Shirley Williams, who died this month, and who was once secretary of state for prices. I restricted it to the names of actual government departments, rather than ministerial titles or responsibilities (Denis Howell, minister for drought, was a popular one); there was an actual Department of Prices and Consumer Protection, 1974-79. Roy Hattersley was the only other secretary of state.
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War Office, 1694-1964. Headed by the Secretary at (not “for”) War, 1661-1794, then by the Secretary of State