§ Q12. Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the Secretary of State for Wales' undertaking the work of a party political appointment, he will now appoint an additional junior Minister to the Welsh Office.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MorganWill the Prime Minister accept that, while it may or may not be that the Welsh people are impressed by the extra-curricular activities of the Secretary of State, there is a deep feeling that the number of Ministers in the Welsh Office should bear some relationship to the number in the Scottish Office, and that the transfer of educational functions to Wales calls for this to be recognised?
§ The Prime MinisterI will consider what the hon. Gentleman says. I would have thought that he would welcome the fact that we have been able to pass further responsibility to the Secretary of State for Wales. On the other hand, the position is not exactly comparable to that in Scotland, which has its own legal system and various other attributes which Wales has not. At the moment, I am satisfied that the present arrangements will work but, naturally, if representations are made to me I will consider them.
§ Mr. HoosonWas the Prime Minister of the view that the Secretary of State for Wales was so underworked that he could afford to relieve him of his responsibilities to attend to the job of being Chairman of the Conservative Party?
§ The Prime MinisterI have not relieved the Secretary of State for Wales of any of his responsibilities. It is customary in Governments of both parties that members of the Cabinet should hold party office. There is nothing unusual about that. It is possible for a Secretary of State to carry out certain political responsibilities, as it is for members of every Government and most members of the House.
§ Mr. John MorrisCan the Prime Minister tell the House how the Secretary of State apportions his work between that of Chairman of the Conservative Party, on the one hand, and Secretary of State, on the other?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I can. He carries out both responsibilities admirably.
§ Mr. George ThomasIs the Prime Minister aware—we want to be perfectly fair to the Secretary of State—that we understand the difficulties of the Secretary of State for Wales in that he must give time to his English constituency and to his Conservative Party chairmanship and 31 that Wales has to put up with what time is left?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the Secretary of State gets a little less sleep as a result, Wales ought to be grateful.