By Sue Inglish
Head of Political Programmes
From Question Time to The Week in Westminster, the politics team produces output across BBC News. Politics chief Sue Inglish explains.
The political programmes unit is based at BBC Westminster opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Nick Robinson became BBC political editor in September 2005
It has its own television and radio studios, and employs around 150 journalists and technical staff.
Led by political editor Nick Robinson, the team of political correspondents and producers provide political news for the full range of BBC news outlets: Breakfast, the BBC One bulletins, News 24, the Radio Four sequence programmes, Five Live and the radio summaries and bulletins.
There is also a team of journalists providing a service to the local radio stations and regional TV news programmes and a team of specialists writing for the BBC News website.
The digital channel BBC Parliament is based at Westminster. The channel covers parliamentary proceedings in the Commons and Lords. It also covers Assemblies and Parliaments in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Europe.
BBC Westminster is also the home of a number of regular programmes for TV and radio:
Chaired by David Dimbleby, Question Time is the BBC's flagship political programme.
Frontbench politicians and leading members of the opposition debate current issues in front of an invited audience. The panel also features a leading figure from the world of journalism, business or entertainment.
Question Time celebrated 25 years of programmes in 2004
The Daily Politics
Presented by Andrew Neil and Jenny Scott, the programme covers live parliamentary events, Prime Minister's Questions every Wednesday and the PM's monthly 'on the record' press conference. It also examines local and regional issues and shows the impact of national issues at a local level.
Andrew Neil and a regular panel of politicians take a look back at the political events of the week with analysis and discussion. A non-politician is also given the opportunity to present a trenchant view of an issue which is then debated by the panel.
The Politics Show
A serious political current affairs programme, presented by Jon Sopel, with a particular emphasis on the examination of policy and the impact on the UK. The last section of the programme contains a regional segment for the 11 English Regions and Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland to pursue issues relevant to their own area.
Sue Inglish factfile
Appointed to new combined role of Head of Political Programmes, Analysis and Research in Jan 05
Worked for ITN from 1983 to 1997
Joined BBC News in 2002 from ITN New Media
Previous jobs include deputy editor of Channel 4 News, editor of itn.co.uk and editor of LBC
BBC Westminster provides coverage on radio and television of major parliamentary and political occasions such as elections, the Budget and important debates.
BBC News 24
The department also produces a number of half hour programmes for BBC News 24 and BBC World - Straight Talk, One to One, Head to Head and Dateline London.
Radio Four programmes:
Today in Parliament/Yesterday in Parliament
A record of the parliamentary proceedings of the day.
The Week in Westminster
A look back at the week's main political and parliamentary stories, presented by a guest newspaper political editor.
The Westminster Hour
Presented by Andrew Rawnsley of the Observer newspaper, the programme combines a look at the main current political stories with an emphasis on policy examination.
Radio Four documentaries and series
One-off series or documentaries on political subjects for Radio Four are also made.