Social Exclusion Unit

HC Deb 03 February 1999 vol 324 c612W

Mr. Edwards

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the operation of the Social Exclusion Unit in Wales. [69036]

Mr. Hain

The remit of the Social Exclusion Unit covers England only. However, its members and officials from the Welsh Office keep in regular contact to ensure that best practice and good ideas are shared. From time to time, the Unit also draws on expertise from Wales or visits projects in the Principality.

I am a member of the Ministerial Network which guides the work of the Unit. This ensures that Wales has a voice at an early stage in the development of policy with an impact beyond England and that Welsh experience and innovations can be considered as part of the wider process of policy formulation.

The Secretary of State has ensured that policies to combat social exclusion are given renewed priority in the Welsh Office and in future this will become the responsibility of the National Assembly.