HC Deb 26 October 1999 vol 336 cc858-9W
Ms Lawrence

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the title of his Department. [96245]

Mr. Paul Murphy

With the agreement of the Prime Minister, my Department is known as "Wales Office (Office of the Secretary of State for Wales)".

The name is designed to address the new, post-devolution, role of my post in Government. It is important that it is clear that I do not retain responsibility for matters which are devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. The name reflects the responsibilities I have for representing Wales in Parliament and in the UK Government. At the same time it points to my role in Wales—that is promoting Government policies and making sure that a wide constituency of interest in Wales are able to make their views known directly to the UK Government.

In Cardiff, I have an office in the National Assembly for Wales building; to avoid confusion my Department will be known there as "The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales".

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