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Dept for Constitutional Affairs

Answer

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what his Department has done in the last 12 months to fulfil its role as a Department improving the quality of and people's confidence in public services. [192656] Mr. Leslie: Public service delivery is at the heart of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Putting people at the centre of the Department's work is a vital component in our vision for better quality service. Justice for all is as central to the objectives of this Government as is education for all and health care for all. So since the creation of the Department for Constitutional Affairs in June 2003 we have been working to make sure that the Department delivers for the people who use its services--especially in our justice system, where people seeking redress either against crime or against civil injustices are at the centre of what the system exists to achieve. That means offering particular support to victims, to witnesses and to jurors. It means improving and reforming our justice system and our legal system to make sure that they offer the best possible help to those who make use of them. It means making our courts work better so that the public's confidence can be raised. A vital part of that will be the creation in April next year of a unified courts administration--for the first time, bringing all courts together administratively. It means making sure, for example, that the market for legal services is working as well as it should be. It was for this reason we established a far-reaching review of legal services headed by Sir David Clementi, which will report shortly. It is also why we have established a fundamental review of our legal aid system. The new consumer strategy review within the DCA will also help to make sure that we put people first in all that we do. We believe that these and a range of other steps are contributing to the quality of public service, which this Department is committed to deliver, and to people's confidence in those services. There is a great deal more to do. But we believe that we have made a good start.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c528-9W; 192656

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Administration of justice Public sector Public service Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk