Department for Constitutional Affairs: Difference between revisions

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{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}{{Short description|Former UK Government department}}

{{Infobox government agency

*[http://www.dca.gov.uk| name = Department offor Constitutional Affairs]

| logo = Department for Constitutional Affairs logo.svg

| formed = 12 June 2003

| dissolved = 9 May 2007

| superseding1 = [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)]]

| jurisdiction = [[Government of the United Kingdom]]

| minister1_pfo = [[Lord Chancellor]]

| website = https://www.dca.gov.uk

}}

{{PoliticsUK}}

The '''Department for Constitutional Affairs''' ('''DCA''') iswas a [[United Kingdom government department]]. Its creation was announced on [[12 June]] [[2003]]; it took withover the intentionfunctions of replacing the [[Lord Chancellor's Department]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lord Chancellor's Department|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/lord-chancellors-department|access-date=2022-01-02|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> 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 (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]].<ref name='BBC1'>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6505025.stm |title=Home Office to be split in two |access-date=2007-03-29 |date=2007-03-29 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC }}</ref> This took place on 9 May 2007.

[[File:Westminster City Hall, Victoria Street SW1 - geograph.org.uk - 1284668.jpg|thumb|200px|Department's headquarters (on the right)]]

It iswas primarily responsible for reforms to the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|Constitutionconstitution]], relations with the [[Channel Islands]] and [[Isle of Man]] and, within [[England and Wales]], it iswas concerned with the administration of the [[Courts of England and Wales|Courts]], [[legal aid]], and the appointment of the [[Judiciaryjudiciary]]. Other responsibilities includeincluded issues relating to [[human rights]], [[Information privacy|data protection]], and [[freedom of information]].

AdministrativelyIt it incorporatesincorporated the [[Wales Office]] and the [[Scotland Office]], but those offices remainremained the overall responsibility of the [[Secretary of State for Wales]] and [[Secretary of State for Scotland]] respectively.

It is primarily responsible for reforms to the [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|Constitution]], relations with the [[Channel Islands]] and [[Isle of Man]] and, within [[England and Wales]], it is concerned with the administration of the [[Courts of England and Wales|Courts]], the appointment of the [[Judiciary]]. Other responsibilities include issues relating to [[human rights]], [[data protection]] and [[freedom of information]].

After the [[2005]] [[United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], it gained additional responsibilities for [[coroner]]s and conduct of local government elections in [[England]].<ref>{{Cite [web |url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7534.asp] |title=Machinery of Government Changes |access-date=2005-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102034845/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7534.asp |archive-date=2005-11-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Administratively it incorporates 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.

==Departmental executive agencies and public bodies==

After the [[2005]] [[general election]], it gained additional responsibilities for [[coroner]]s and conduct of local government elections in [[England]]. [http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page7534.asp].

*[[HMHer LandMajesty's Courts RegistryService]] ''(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==

==Ministers==

Ministers of the Department of Constitutional Affairs as of [[8 May]] [[2006]] [http://www.dca.gov.uk/dept/depconmin.htm]

*[[Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs]] and [[Lord Chancellor]] - The Rt Hon [[Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton|The Lord Falconer of Thoroton]] PC QC

**[[Minister of State|Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs]] - The Rt Hon [[Harriet Harman]] QC MP

**[[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State|Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] - The Rt Hon. [[Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland|The Baroness Ashton of Upholland]]

**[[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State|Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] - [[Bridget Prentice]] MP

**[[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State|Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] - [[Vera Baird]] QC MP

This is a list of [[Act of Parliament|acts of Parliament]] enacted since 1997 that gave powers to the Department of Constitutional Affairs.

**[[Advocate General for Scotland]] - The Rt Hon. [[Neil Davidson|The Baron Davidson of Glen Clova]] QC

**[[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] (reporting to the [[Secretary of State for Scotland]]) - [[David Cairns (politician)|David Cairns]] MP

**[[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] (reporting to the [[Secretary of State for Wales]]) - [[Nick Ainger]] MP

===Constitutional acts===

==Permanent Secretary==

The [[Permanent Secretary]] is [[Alex Allan]]

*[[Compensation Act 2006]]

==Departmental agencies==

*[[HerCriminal Majesty's CourtsDefence Service]] ''(for [[England andAct Wales2006]])''

*[[Inquiries Act 2005]]

*[[HM Land Registry]] ''(for [[England and Wales]])''

*[[Constitutional Reform Act 2005]]

*[[National Archives (UK)|The National Archives]]

*[[Mental Capacity Act 2005]]

*[[Public Guardianship Office]] ''(for [[England and Wales]])''

*[[Gender Recognition Act 2004]]

*[[Courts Act 2003]]

*[[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===

Among members of the legal profession the department is affectionately known as "decaff".

*[[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 ExecutiveGovernment]]

*[[Courts of Scotland]]

*[[Departments of the United Kingdom Government]]

*[[Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations]]

*[[Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture]]

==External linksReferences==

{{reflist}}

*[http://www.dca.gov.uk Department of Constitutional Affairs]

*[http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk Her Majesty's Courts Service]

==External links==

*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20070506093704/http://www.dca.gov.uk/ Department for Constitutional Affairs Official Archived Website from 6 May 2007]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050405065918/http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/ HerHis Majesty's Courts Service]

*[http://www.landregistry.gov.uk Land Registry]

*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050403170134/http://www.guardianship.gov.uk/ Public Guardianship Office]

*[http://www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk/ Tribunals Service]

[[Category:DepartmentsDefunct departments of the Government of the United Kingdom Government|Constitutional Affairs]]

[[Category:2003 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:2007 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]

[[no:Departementet for konstitusjonelle saker]]