Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) role is to improve the justice system for the public and is also responsible for constitution, electoral matters and upholding rights. It is headed by the Secretary of State for Justice. Priorities for the Ministry are to reduce re-offending and protect the public, to promote justice, to provide access to justice, increase confidence in the justice system, uphold people's human rights, information and democratic rights and to safeguard and modernise our constitution. The MoJ incorporates the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, National Offender Management Service (NOMS) which includes the Prison Service and Probation Service, and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). The Secretary of State is the government minister responsible to parliament for the judiciary and the court system.
Contact information
Parliamentary Branch
Correspondence Section
Ministers
Jack Straw
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor: The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Leads on:
- Overall strategy
- Resourcing
- Judicial appointments
- Judicial diversity
- Constitutional renewal
- Lords reform
- Party funding
Private Office to Jack Straw
David Hanson
Minister of State (Justice): The Rt Hon David Hanson MP
Leads on:
- Oversight of criminal law
- Prisons
- Probation
- Sentencing policy
- Youth justice
- Northern Ireland Court Service
- Industrial relations
Private Office to David Hanson
Michael Wills
Minister of State (Justice): Michael Wills MP
Leads on:
- Constitutional renewal, apart from Lords reform
- Electoral policy, including electoral modernisation
- Democratic engagement with Bridget Prentice
- Freedom of information
- Data sharing and data protection
- National Archives
- Devolution
- Human rights, including equalities
- Crown dependencies
- Royal, church & hereditary issues and lord lieutenants
- Privy counsellors
- Land Registry
- Law Commission
Private Office to Michael Wills
Lord Hunt
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Justice): Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE
Leads on:
- Legal aid
- Legal Services Commission
- Lords reform with Jack Straw
- Departmental business in the Lords
Private Office to Lord Hunt
Maria Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Justice): Maria Eagle MP
Lead ons:
- Lead on criminal law
- Support on prisons, probation and sentencing policy
- Her Majesty's Courts Service
- Criminal justice
- Office for Criminal Justice Reform
- Support to Lord Hunt on legal aid
Private Office to Maria Eagle
Bridget Prentice
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Justice): Bridget Prentice MP
Leads on:
- Civil and family justice
- Coroners, burial and cremation
- Democratic engagement with Michael Wills
- Party funding with Jack Straw
- Social exclusion
- Compensation culture
- Tribunals and administrative justice
- Legal services reform
- Legal Services Complaints Commission
- Legal Services Ombudsman
- Asylum and immigration
- European Union and international policy
- Office of the Public Guardian
- Offices of Court Funds, Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
Private Office to Bridget Prentice
Private Office
Private Office to The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Private Office to The Rt Hon David Hanson MP
Private Office to Michael Wills MP
Private Office to The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE
Private Office to Marie Eagle MP
Private Office to Bridget Prentice MP
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Executive Agencies
Her Majesty’s Court Service
Her Majesty's Courts Service took on the responsibility for the Magistrates' Court Service and Court Service with effect from 1 April 2005. The Agency is responsible for the administration of the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales. It supports the judiciary to enable criminal cases to be heard, civil disputes to be adjudicated, family proceedings to be decided, judgments to be enforced and grants of probate to be issued.
HM Land Registry
The Land Registry guarantees the title to, and records the ownership of, interests in registered land in England and Wales.
HM Prison Service
The public sector Prison Service in England and Wales serves the public by keeping in custody those committed by the courts. Its duty is to look after them with humanity and help them lead law abiding and useful lives in custody and after release.
National Archives
The National Archives was launched in April 2003, and brought together the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission.
Public Guardianship Office
The Public Guardianship Office promotes and protects the private assets and financial affairs of people with a mental disability.
Tribunals Service
The Tribunals Service was launched on 1 April 2006 to provide common administrative support to the main central government tribunals.
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