Welsh Office

The Welsh Office ("Swyddfa Gymreig") was a department in the Government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. The Welsh Office was established in April 1964 to execute government policy in Wales and was headed by the Secretary of State for Wales (a post of which had been created the previous October). The Welsh Office took over the responsibilities related to housing, local government and town and country planning, etc. for Wales which had previously the responsibilities of several other government departments. Its responsibilities included Monmouthshire, which for some purposes had earlier been considered by some to lie within England. [ [http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1966/jul/11/welsh-office-provisional-order-western Example of Welsh Office debate re Monmouthshire] ]

Following the referendum on Welsh devolution in 1997, the Welsh Office was formally disbanded on 1 July 1999 and the majority of its powers were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales. The cabinet position of Secretary of State for Wales was retained at the head of a newly formed Wales Office.

Permanent Secretary

* Sir Goronwy Daniel KCVO (1964 to 1969)
* Sir Idwal Pugh KCB (1969 to 1971)
* Sir Hywel Evans KCB (1971 to 1980)
* Sir Trevor Hughes KCB (1980 to 1985)
* Sir Richard Lloyd KCB (1985 to 1993)
* Sir Michael Scholar KCB (1993 to 1996)
* Rachel Lomax (1996 to 1999)
* Sir Jon Shortridge KCB (May to July 1999)

References