§ Q4. Mr. Andersonasked the Prime Minister if he will instruct Ministers to ensure that Parliamentary Questions relating specifically and exclusively to Wales are always answered by the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I think the present arrangements whereby Ministers normally answer Questions falling within their own field of responsibility best meet the convenience of the House.
§ Mr. AndersonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the number of transferred Questions is now far too large? Would not the problem be obviated by giving the Secretary of State for Wales, who is doing a first-rate job, increased responsibility for matters like education, agriculture and health?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with my hon. Friend's parenthetical reference to the Secretary of State for Wales. Some Questions are so marginal that it is difficult to judge whether they should be answered by the Welsh Office Minister 795 or by Ministers from the functional Departments concerned. However, a number of transfers take place because some hon. Members have put Questions down to the wrong Department in the first place.
§ Mr. Gwynfor EvansDoes not the Prime Minister appreciate that the right place to deal with matters relating specifically and exclusively to any nation—and Wales is no exception—is in a Parliament of the representatives of that nation, meeting on the soil of the homeland of that nation and responsible solely to the people of that nation?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that that is a somewhat wider question but, while the hon. Gentleman is awaiting the consummation of that particular desire, I have not noticed that he has been particularly backward about putting down Welsh Questions in this Parliament.