Records of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Wales Office

Division within BD

1943-1975

Records of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government's Wales Office relating to responsibilities for Welsh affairs prior to the setting up of the Welsh Office.

Comprises files of the Wales Office in BD 24 and of the office's Research Section in BD 29

Public Record(s)

English

• Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Wales Office, 1951-1964
• Ministry of Town and Country Planning, Welsh Regional Office, 1943-1951

2 series

After the Second World War, increased interest in the devolution of Scotland and Wales led to the practice of arranging special debates in the House of Commons on Welsh affairs and the appointment of a special advisory council, which was replaced by the establishment of a Council for Wales and Monmouthshire in April 1949. Previously, responsibility for Wales was vested in various departmental ministers, but the new arrangements made necessary co-ordination by a single Cabinet minister. This responsibility was given to the Lord President of the Council, Herbert Morrison, (who was also Leader of the House), as part of his co-ordination of post-war reconstruction plans.

In March 1951 these functions passed to the Lord Privy Seal, Ernest Bevin. Following his death in April 1951 they were at first performed by Morrison (by then Foreign Secretary), and from May 1951 by James Chuter Ede (as Leader of the House).

In October 1951 the new Conservative government created the office of the Minister for Welsh Affairs, which was held by the Home Secretary with the assistance, from November 1951, of a Parliamentary Under Secretary for Welsh Affairs.

In January 1957 ministerial responsibility was transferred to the Minister of Housing and Local Government and administrative work to the Welsh Office of his department. In December 1957 a Minister of State for Welsh affairs was appointed in the Ministry of Housing and Local Government with special responsibility for the Welsh office of the ministry in Cardiff.

In October 1964 the office of Secretary of State for Wales was established and the minister's special responsibilities came to an end.

In 1965 the department's executive responsibilities in Wales were transferred to the new Welsh Office.