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The post of Secretary of State for Wales came into existence in October of 1964, the first incumbent being Jim Griffiths, MP for Llanelli. The position entailed responsibility for the Wales and expenditure on certain public services was delegated from Westminster. In April of 1965 administration of Welsh affairs, which had previously been divided between a number of government departments were united in a newly created Welsh Office with the Secretary of State for Wales at its head.During the 1980s and 1990s, as the number of Conservative MPs for Welsh constituencies dwindled almost to nothing, the office fell into disrepute. Nicholas Edwards, MP for Pembrokeshire, held the post for some years, but was constantly mocked for his upper-class appearance and accent. On his departure, the government ceased to look within Wales for the Secretary of State, and the post was increasingly used as a way of getting junior high-fliers into the CabinetIn British politics, the Cabinet is comprised of the most senior government ministers, most of them heads of government departments with the title " Secretary of State". It is a vital convention that all Cabinet members are accountable to Parliament, and. John RedwoodThe Right Honourable John Redwood (born June 15, 1951) is a British Conservative politician, MP for Wokingham and Shadow Secretary of State for Deregulation. Redwood, born in Dover, Kent, had a brilliant academic career behind him (Fellow of All Souls' Co in particular caused embarrassment to the government when he publicly demonstrated an inability to sing (or even successfully mime) the Welsh national anthem.
The introduction of the Welsh Assembly and its CabinetThe Welsh Assembly Government (or WAG is the executive body of the National Assembly for Wales — it is comprised of the First Minister and his Cabinet. As at October 2003, the Assembly Government comprises: First Minister: Rhodri Morgan Minister for Finan following the devolutionDevolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. It differs from federalism in that the powers devolved are temporary and ultimately reside in central government. Any devolved assemblies ca referendumA referendum (plural: referendums or referenda or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may be the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the r of 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t was the beginning of a new era. On 1 July 1999 the majority of the functions of the Welsh Office transferred to the new assembly. The Welsh Office was disbanded but the post of Secretary of State for Wales was retained, as the head of the newly created Wales Office.
List of Secretaries of State for Wales
Wales
Government of the UK
