FAQs
What is the role of the Secretary of State for Wales?
The Secretary of State for Wales is Wales’ voice in Whitehall and Whitehall’s voice in Wales.
Wales Office Ministers represent Welsh interests within Government by sitting on twenty Cabinet committees and on the Joint Ministerial Committee.
They work closely with Assembly Government Ministers. The Secretary of State and the First Minister meet regularly, the Parliamentary Under Secretary has regular discussions with Assembly Ministers.
The Secretary of State is responsible for steering Welsh specific legislation through Parliament. Following the Government of Wales Act 2006 this now includes Orders in Council designed to enhance the Assembly’s legislative competence. The Secretary of State has to consult with the Assembly about the UK Government’s legislative programme, and this consultation must include participating in at least one session of the National Assembly for each legislative session.
In addition to this requirement, the Secretary of State also has the right to attend and speak at sessions of the National Assembly, but not to vote. The Secretary of State is voted the Welsh Budget by Parliament, which must then be passed on to the Assembly, except for the sum needed to run the Wales Office.
Ministers are also involved in a substantial programme of other Parliamentary work including Welsh question sessions in the House of Commons, giving evidence to Parliamentary Committees including the Welsh Affairs Committee, plus other debates such as the St. David’s Day debate and Welsh Grand Committee debates.
The current Secretary of State for Wales is Cheryl Gillan and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales is David Jones.
Where is the Wales Office based?
The Wales Office is based in both Cardiff and London.
In London the Wales Office is based in Gwydyr House on Whitehall.
In Cardiff the Wales Office is based in Discovery House in Cardiff Bay.
How do I contact you?
You can contact the Wales Office by writing to us at:
The Wales Office
Gwydyr House
Whitehall
London SW1A 2ER
or by telephoning us:
0207 270 0534
or via the website.
What matters are devolved to Wales?
The full list of devolved policy areas in which the Welsh Assembly Government has responsibilities is as follows:
- Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development
- Ancient monuments and historic buildings
- Culture
- Economic development
- Education and training
- Environment
- Fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety
- Food
- Health and health services
- Highways and transport
- Housing
- Local government
- Public administration
- Social welfare
- Sport and recreation
- Tourism
- Town and county planning
- Water and flood defence
- Welsh language
Other policy areas remain the responsibility of the UK Government. They include:
- The Constitution
- Foreign affairs
- Defence
- International development
- The Civil Service
- Financial and macro-economic matters
- National security
- Immigration and nationality
- Misuse of drugs
- Trade & Industry
- Various aspects of energy regulation (e.g. electricity; coal, oil and gas; nuclear energy)
- Various aspects of transport (e.g. regulation of air services, rail and international shipping)
- Social security
- Employment
- Broadcasting
- Equal opportunities
What’s the difference between the Wales Office, the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales?
The Wales Office is a part of the UK Government. Since May 2007 it has been a distinct entity within the Ministry of Justice. Although it is part of the Ministry of Justice the Secretary of State for Wales is a distinct role which is not classed as a Ministry of Justice Minister. The Wales Office is Wales’ voice in Westminster and Westminster’s voice in Wales. The Wales Office is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of Welsh legislation through Parliament. It is responsible for financial transactions between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government and also undertakes certain reserved functions for Wales.
The National Assembly for Wales was officially formed in 1999 after the Government of Wales Act 1998. In 2005 the White Paper “Better Governance for Wales” recognised the need to separate the National Assembly for Wales into the Welsh Assembly Government (the executive) on the one hand, and the National Assembly for Wales (the legislature) on the other.
The Welsh Assembly Government is the devolved administration for Wales and is responsible for all devolved areas under the Government of Wales Act 2006. It is currently a coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru. The Welsh Assembly Government is led by the First Minister who is nominated by Assembly Members and appointed by Her Majesty the Queen. The First Minister then chooses Ministers to make up the Assembly Government. To visit the Welsh Assembly Government website click here.
The National Assembly for Wales is an entity separate from the Welsh Assembly Government, however one of its roles is to scrutinise and monitor the Assembly Government. The Government of Wales Act 2006 introduced the ability for the National Assembly for Wales to make its own legislation on devolved matters, which will be a new category of laws called Assembly Measures. Law making power for the National Assembly will accrue incrementally, over a number of years, through orders in Council or framework clauses in UK Bills. The National Assembly consists of 60 Assembly Members (AMs). Members are elected for four-year terms, where 40 AMs represent geographical constituencies and 20 AMs from five electoral regions. To visit the National Assembly for Wales website click here.
How is Welsh devolution financed?
Funding for the devolved administration in Wales is determined by the UK Government within spending reviews alongside other departments of the United Kingdom. The UK Parliament then votes the necessary provision to the Secretary of State for Wales; who in turn makes payments to the Welsh Assembly.
Changes to the Welsh settlement are determined by the Barnett Formula. Under the formula Wales receives a population-based proportion of changes in proposed spending on comparable United Kingdom Government services in England.
It is then up to the Welsh Assembly Government to decide how much of the Budget is allocated to which public services.
For further information on the financing devolved administrations click here.
What is the Government of Wales Act?
The Government of Wales Act 1998 created the National Assembly for Wales and devolved executive responsibility for key policy areas such as Education and Health to it.
In 2005, the Government committed itself to enhancing the devolution settlement in Wales, creating a formal separation between the legislative and executive arms of the National Assembly for Wales.
The 2005 White Paper “Better Governance for Wales” recognised the need to separate the National Assembly for Wales into the Welsh Assembly Government (the executive) on the one hand, and the National Assembly for Wales (the legislature) on the other. It established the policy that Welsh provisions in UK Bills should be broadly drafted, providing more freedom for the Welsh Assembly Government to apply policies in the light of Welsh needs and interests.
The Government of Wales Act 2006 advances the devolution settlement in Wales with provisions for increased the legislative competence of the Assembly – providing opportunity for the National Assembly for Wales to seek legislative powers to pass Assembly Measures, a new type of legislation specific to Wales.
Click here to view the Government of Wales Act 2006.
How many Welsh MPs are there?
Wales is currently divided into 40 constituencies and each return one member to Parliament. Following the General Election of May 2010, Labour hold 26 seats, the Conservative Party have eight seats, the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru have three each.
What is the process of Orders in Council?
Discussions are held between the Welsh Assembly Government, Whitehall Departments and the Wales Office to agree a proposed draft Order in Council.
The proposed draft Order in Council is then put forward for pre-legislative scrutiny by the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and an Ad-Hoc National Assembly Committee which is established for each Order.
The Committees will then report back and the Order may then be amended or kept as it is, depending on the Committee recommendations.
The Assembly then votes on the Order. If they vote yes a formal request is sent from the First Minister to the Secretary of State for Wales. The Secretary of State has 60 days either to lay the draft Order before Parliament or gives the First Minister notice of his reasons for refusal.
If the Secretary of State decides to lay the draft Order it then goes before both the House of Commons and House of Lords where it can not be amended. This is a straight yes or no vote.
What is the Freedom of Information Act?
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives the public the right to ask any public body for all the information they have on any subject. The company must provide this information within a month, unless they have a valid reason not to.
Any person can make a request under the Act, regardless of age, gender, nationality or where they live. It is possible to ask for any information, but some may be withheld to protect interests, which is allowed under the Act, but the public body must explain why the information has been held. For further information click here.
How can I find out more about voting?
To find out more about voting visit the Electoral Commission website. It has information on who can vote, how to register to vote and how to cast a vote.