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The Lord Chancellor's Departments

The Lord Chancellor's Department
Northern Ireland Court Service
Public Record Office [renamed National Archives on 2 April 2003]
HM Land Registry

Departmental Report 2001-2002

The Government's Expenditure Plans 2002-03 to 2003-04

Presented to Parliament by the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Command of Her Majesty

CM5408

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

A. The Lord Chancellor's Department
What we do: The work of the Department

1. The Justice System: Courts and Tribunals
   The civil and criminal courts in England and Wales aim to provide fast and effective justice, excellent customer service and best value for money. LCD also contributes to the asylum appeals and administrative justice systems.
2. Civil Justice
   Civil law needs to be clear and enforceable. LCD has responsibility for developing new civil legislation, overseeing the procedures of the civil courts and working to develop effective enforcement procedures.
3. Legal Services
   The Community Legal Service and Criminal Defence Service aim to provide accessible legal advice and best value funding. LCD also promotes Alternative Dispute Resolution and oversees the private and international legal services markets.
4. Children and Families
   LCD has responsibility for relationship support, as well as promoting contact between children and non-resident parents. It also sponsors the work of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) and the Public Guardianship Office (PGO).
5. Judicial Appointments
   The Lord Chancellor appoints members of the independent judiciary at all levels from Law Lords to magistrates. In advising him, LCD looks to select a diverse range of talented individuals to deliver justice.
6. Constitutional Business
   The Government's work on human rights, freedom of information and data protection is based in LCD; it also works on a range of constitutional issues including reforming the House of Lords and awarding city status.
7. How we do it: Developing the Department
   LCD constantly seeks to improve its service to the public, as well as its internal systems to support the delivery of its objectives.
8. Appendices
   Summaries of progress against CSR and PSA targets; new aims and objectives; financial matters; public appointments; Associated Offices and Non-Departmental Public Bodies; tables.

B. Northern Ireland Court Service
NICtS is responsible for the administration of justice in Northern Ireland, at all levels from the Supreme Court to magistrates' courts. It also advises the Lord Chancellor on his ministerial responsibilities in Northern Ireland.

C. Public Record Office [renamed National Archives on 2 April 2003]
The PRO administers and holds the UK's public records. Its work includes overseeing the creation of active records in government departments, and then storing and making accessible to the public those records of enduring historical value.

D. HM Land Registry
HMLR maintains the register of title to land in England and Wales, and delivers various land registration services to the public. As a trading fund, it is entirely self-funding.

Alternative versions

This document is also available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. A printed version is available from The Stationery Office, reference CM5408.

Accessibility

A range of Access Keys are provided in this document. Details of these are listed on the Access Keys page.