HC Deb 03 May 1971 vol 816 cc982-3
3. Sir A. Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will transfer some departments of the Welsh Office to North Wales.

Mr. Peter Thomas

There are already three small sections of the Welsh Office located in North Wales. I do not contemplate a transfer of other departments from Cardiff.

Sir A. Meyer

Will my right hon. and learned Friend consider whether more might not be done to persuade statutory or other public bodies, such as electricity and gas boards, to transfer office jobs to North Wales? Jobs of that kind are badly needed in that part of the country.

Mr. Peter Thomas

The Government are anxious to have this sort of office located in different parts of the country, but the Welsh Office is a small Department and I do not think we can transfer any more of our staff outside Cardiff.

Mr. Alan Williams

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is not the transferance of offices which will help to solve this problem in Wales? The basic difficulty is his non-availability because of his prior commitments as Chairman of the Tory Party.