{{Use British English|date=August 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}{{Short description|Former UK Government department}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Department for 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''') was a [[United Kingdom government department]]. Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003; it took over the functions of 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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 was 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 was concerned with the administration of the [[Courts of England and Wales|Courts]], [[legal aid]], and the appointment of the [[judiciary]]. Other responsibilities included issues relating to [[human rights]], [[Information privacy|data protection]], and [[freedom of information]].
It incorporated the [[Wales Office]] and the [[Scotland Office]], but those offices remained the overall responsibility of the [[Secretary of State for Wales]] and [[Secretary of State for Scotland]], respectively.
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>
==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 [[Act of Parliament|acts of Parliament]] enacted since 1997 that gave powers to the Department of Constitutional Affairs.
===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]] *[[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]]
==Junior ministers==
* [[Chris Leslie]] (June 2003 – May 2005) * [[David Lammy]] (June 2003 – May 2005) * [[Anne McGuire]] (June 2003 – May 2005) * [[Don Touhig]] (June 2003 – May 2005) * [[Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin]] (June 2003 – September 2004) * [[Catherine Ashton|Catherine Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland]] (September 2004 – May 2007) * [[Harriet Harman]] (May 2005 – May 2007) * [[Bridget Prentice]] (May 2005 – May 2007) * [[Vera Baird]] (May 2006 – May 2007)
==See also==
*[[English law]] *[[Scottish Government]] *[[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]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==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/ His 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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108202659/http://www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk/ |date=8 November 2005 }}
[[Category:Defunct departments of the Government of the United Kingdom|Constitutional Affairs]] [[Category:2003 establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:2007 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
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