This post created in the mid 1960's in response to demand for devolution of power to Wales.
The Secretary of State for Wales has responsibility for a number of departments and ministries that in England are exercised by different departmental Ministers. The areas of competence of the Welsh Office (as the department is usually referred to) includes:
The Secretary of State for Wales is a member of the Cabinet, appointed by the Prime Minister. The Secretary of State is a member of the governing party, irrespective of that party's standing in Wales. The Secretary of State is assisted by two non-cabinet ministers (known as Under Secretaries of State). In addition, he is also assisted by a Parliamentary Private Secretary, which is the lowest rung in the government, a non-ministerial appointment.
The creation of a separate Department of State for Wales has lead to
separate policies being followed in Wales to England. Even under the first
three Secretaries of State for Wales in the Thatcher government, Wales was
run in a more interventionist Keynsian way - quite independent of the
Monetarist policy of the government as a whole.
Copyright Lyn David Thomas 1996
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