HC Deb 10 May 1976 vol 911 cc1-2W
36. Mr. Gwynfor Evans

asked the Lord President of the Council what discussions he has held with the Welsh TUC concerning the Government's devolution proposals.

Mr. John Smith

None, but the views which the Council has submitted to the Government are being carefully studied.

Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Lord President of the Council on what information the assertion in paragraph 174 of the White Paper on Devolution that "whereas public opinion in Scotland favours a legislative assembly, the situation in Wales is different" was based.

Mr. John Smith

The Government reached this conclusion in the light of a programme of consultations in Wales in the summer of 1974 and first an-

DISTRIBUTION OF QUESTIONS BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS
Thursday 20th November—Friday 7th May inclusive
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Agriculture … 254 242 447 77 869 26.9 8.2 69.3
Attorney General … 23 138 99 17 232 8.8 6.5 17.4
Church Commissioners … 1 — 1 — 1 50.0 — 100.0
Civil Service … 47 99 147 18 275 16.0 6.1 61.8
Defence … 228 313 443 93 888 23.2 9.5 53.0
Duchy of Lancaster … 14 3 22 17 21 35.9 30.8 14.3
Education … 186 302 376 68 777 21.5 7.9 62.4
Employment … 232 487 629 70 1,253 17.2 5.2 69.0
Energy … 127 265 445 65 772 15.2 7.8 48.0
Environment … 509 1,017 1,406 157 2,701 17.4 5.4 68.4
Foreign … 331 287 326 146 771 35.1 15.5 48.3
Home … 220 512 670 78 1,301 15.7 5.6 64.5
Industry … 226 325 410 79 872 23.5 8.2 58.4
Lord Advocate … 31 2 16 29 19 63.3 59.2 —
Lord President … 42 68 114 17 201 18.7 7.6 59.5
Northern Ireland … 114 237 268 84 648 18.4 13.6 27.2
Overseas … 28 54 73 19 143 18.1 12.3 28.6
Prime Minister … 1,151 80 112 167 1,154 85.7 12.4 81.8
Prices and Consumer Protection … 133 147 255 90 460 24.9 16.8 30.0
Scotland … 184 224 596 104 885 18.3 10.4 42.4
Social Services … 361 821 1,263 90 2,372 14.8 3.7 79.0
Trade … 220 336 415 93 796 22.7 9.6 40.0
Treasury … 191 508 814 69 1,474 12.6 4.6 63.3
Wales … 210 160 384 51 544 27.7 6.5 4.8
1. Number of Questions on the paper for Oral Answer.
2. Number of Questions on the paper for Written Answer with a W.
3. Number of Questions on the paper for Written Answer without a W.
4. Number of Oral Answers given.
5. Number of Written Answers given.
6. Figures in item 1 expressed as a percentage of the total of items 1,2 and 3.
7. Figures in item 4 expressed as a percentage of the total of items 1,2 and 3.
8. Percentage of Oral Questions receiving written replies.

nounced it in the White Paper "Democracy and Devolution; Proposals for Scotland and Wales" (Cmnd 5732) in September 1974. They are satisfied that it continues to represent public opinion in Wales.