Welsh Office To Target Economy and Public Services
A radical shake-up of the Welsh Office has been announced, just a week after
Labour's general election landslide left Wales without a single Conservative MP.
Labour's new Welsh Secretary Ron Davies has reshaped the responsibilities of his ministerial team with orders to start immediate work on boosting the economy and improving public services.
Junior minister Peter Hain will take charge of measures to spread economic
prosperity and his colleague, Win Griffiths, has the brief of improving the quality of areas like the NHS, social services, housing and local
government.
Unveiling his agenda, Mr Davies also confirmed that setting up an elected
Welsh Assembly was a top priority. "We will move quickly to bring about this new political reality, with an elected Assembly acting as the voice for the people of Wales and heralding a new style of progressive and inclusive politics."
He added, "Wales will be better for an Assembly and an Assembly will be
better for Wales. But we do not need to wait for an Assembly to build a Wales in which we all share in economic prosperity and enjoy a good quality of life."
Parliamentary Under-Secretary Mr Griffiths has been given the task of tackling
"head-on" the challenge of improving public services. His wide-ranging
portfolio also includes two new special responsibilities for children's services and the environment - as Minister for Children and Minister for the
Countryside.
Mr Hain has the aim of creating an "economic powerhouse" for Wales,
combining education, training, economic development, transport and industrial
issues.
On his immediate agenda is the formation of a new Education and Training Forum
to raise skills levels. Business, colleges, trade unions and local government
will all be involved in the scheme.
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