HC Deb 22 January 1953 vol 510 cc401-2
37. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Minister of Education the extent to which the Cardiff office of the Welsh Department of her Department is able to take decisions without reference to the London office.

Miss Horsbrugh

The functions of the Cardiff office of the Welsh Department of my Ministry are set out in Circular 14 (Wales), a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. The officers stationed at Cardiff are responsible for the day-to-day administration of primary and secondary education.

Mr. Thomas

If we add up what the Minister said it means very little indeed. Can the right hon. Lady assure us that the Cardiff office are able to take any decision of major importance or do they still have to refer all major questions to Whitehall, where the Permanent Secretary still resides?

Miss Horsbrugh

Questions of policy will, naturally, be discussed with me by my Permanent Secretary for Wales. All the day-to-day decisions are taken at Cardiff, and the volume of the primary and secondary education work comprises the greater part of the Department's work.

Mr. Thomas

Would the Minister tell me whether the Cardiff office has the power to tell a local authority that they may go ahead with the building of a school where, in a housing district, there is urgent need of such a school or where the London office is, quite clearly, out of touch?

Miss Horsbrugh

lf, in referring to the London office, the hon. Member means the Permanent Secretary for Wales, I would point out that the Permanent Secretary is most certainly not out of touch as he spends his time between Wales, as a whole, and London; but he must discuss policy with me and with other senior officials.