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Department for Constitutional Affairs

Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEP : Department for Constitutional Affairs

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is a United Kingdom government department. Its creation was announced on 12 June 2003 with the intention of replacing the Lord Chancellor's Department.

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

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.

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

Contents

1 Ministers
2 Permanent Secretary
3 Departmental agencies
4 See also
5 External links

Ministers

Ministers of the Department of Constitutional Affairs as of 8 May 2006 [link]

Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor - The Rt Hon The Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC QC
*Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs - The Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP
*Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - The Rt Hon. The Baroness Ashton of Upholland
*Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Bridget Prentice MP
*Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Vera Baird QC MP

*Advocate General for Scotland - The Rt Hon. The Baron Davidson of Glen Clova QC
*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (reporting to the Secretary of State for Scotland) - David Cairns MP
*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (reporting to the Secretary of State for Wales) - Nick Ainger MP

Permanent Secretary

The Permanent Secretary is Alex Allan

Departmental agencies

Her Majesty's Courts Service (for England and Wales)
HM Land Registry (for England and Wales)
The National Archives
Public Guardianship Office (for England and Wales)

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

See also

External links

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