Department_for_constitutional_affairs

United Kingdom

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The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) was a United Kingdom government department. Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003 with the intention of replacing the Lord Chancellor\'s Department. On 28 March 2007 it was announced that the Department for Constitutional Affairs would take control of probation, prisons and prevention of re-offending from the Home Office and be renamed the Ministry of Justice. Home Office to be split in two. BBC News Online. BBC (2007-03-29). Retrieved on 2007-03-29. This took place on 9 May 2007.

It was primarily responsible for reforms to the Constitution, relations with the Channel Islands and Isle of Man and, within England and Wales, it was concerned with the administration of the Courts, legal aid, the appointment of the Judiciary. Other responsibilities included issues relating to human rights, data protection and freedom of information.

It incorporated the Wales Office and the Scotland Office, but those offices remain the overall responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales and Secretary of State for Scotland respectively.

After the 2005 general election, it gained additional responsibilities for coroners and conduct of local government elections in England. [1].

Ministers

Ministers of the Ministry of Justice as of 7 November 2007 [2]

• Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor - Rt Hon Jack Straw MP

• • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Maria Eagle MP
  • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Bridget Prentice MP
  • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE
  • Minister of State - Rt Hon David Hanson MP
  • Minister of State - Michael Wills MP

Permanent Secretary

The Permanent Secretary is Alex Allan.

Departmental executive agencies and public bodies

• Her Majesty\'s Courts Service (for England and Wales)
• Public Guardianship Office (for England and Wales)
• Tribunals Service
• Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
• Legal Services Commission
• HM Land Registry

Legislation enacted by the department

This is a list of Acts of Parliament enacted since 1997 that have given powers to the Department of Constitutional Affairs and (since 2007) the Ministry of Justice.

Constitutional Acts

• Compensation Act 2006
• Criminal Defence Service Act 2006
• Inquiries Act 2005
• Constitutional Reform Act 2005
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Gender Recognition Act 2004
• Courts Act 2003
• The Commonhold And Leasehold Reform Act 2002
• Land Registration Act 2002
• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Access to Justice Act 1999
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998

Election Acts

• Electoral Administration Act 2006
• European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Act 2004
• European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003
• European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002
• Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
• Representation of the People Act 2000

See also

• English law
• Scottish Government
• Courts of Scotland
• Departments of the United Kingdom Government

References

External links

• Ministry of Justice
• Her Majesty\'s Courts Service
• Land Registry
• The National Archives
• Public Guardianship Office
• Tribunals Service

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