MINISTER FOR WELSH AFFAIRS (Hansard, 29 January 1957)

§ 48. Mr. C. Hughes
asked the Prime Minister the Government's policy in connection with the future functions of the Minister for Welsh Affairs.

§ The Prime Minister
The Minister for Welsh Affairs, like his predecessor, will keep himself continuously informed of the Welsh aspects of public business, and for that purpose will be visiting different parts of the Principality and meeting representatives of Welsh life. He will speak in Cabinet on behalf of the special interests of Wales. I think that the change has already been widely welcomed in Wales whereby these functions will be discharged by a Minister who has executive responsibility over the great range of matters affecting Wales which come within his concern as Minister of Housing and Local Government.

§ Mr. Bevan
Can the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, explain why it was that the Home Secretary was selected in the first instance? As these facts were precisely the same at that time, why has the change been made?

§ The Prime Minister
Perhaps because he was a Scotsman.

§ Mr. Hughes
Can the Prime Minister say whether a Parliamentary Secretary is to be appointed to look after Welsh affairs and to take the place of the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department who looked after Welsh affairs?

§ The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend will himself be responsible for matters affecting the Principality.

§ Mr. G. Thomas
In view of the fact that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has a full-time job looking after that Department, does the Prime Minister not think that it is quite unfair to Wales that he should now add to the burden of the Minister by not granting a Parliamentary Secretary such as there has been in office hitherto?

§ The Prime Minister
One of the difficulties, of course, is that I have no legal power to do so.