Public spending at the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) hit nearly £3.4bn for 2004-05 as the UK’s legal ministry continues to digest the impact of its new powers.

The figures are contained in the DCA’s annual accounts, published last week, which show total public spending was up by 7% from last year’s £3.17bn to hit £3.39bn, of which more than £2bn is reserved for legal aid.