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.[1] 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.[2] This took place on 9 May 2007.
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 12 June 2003 |
| Dissolved | 9 May 2007 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the United Kingdom |
| Website | https://www.dca.gov.uk |
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, and 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 remained 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.[3]
Departmental executive agencies and public bodies
editLegislation enacted by the department
editThis is a list of acts of Parliament enacted since 1997 that gave powers to the Department of Constitutional Affairs.
Constitutional acts
edit- 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
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lord Chancellor's Department". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Home Office to be split in two". BBC News Online. BBC. 29 March 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2007.
- ^ "Machinery of Government Changes". Archived from the original on 2 November 2005. Retrieved 24 May 2005.