Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 3 November 2010.
Neil Parish
Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton
11:30,
3 November 2010
What recent discussions she has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on Government support for the economy in Wales.
Dame Cheryl Gillan
The Secretary of State for Wales
I have had regular discussions with both the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister on a range of topics, including working together to deliver strong, sustainable growth to the Welsh economy. We will continue to have discussions on supporting home grown enterprise and looking at attracting more foreign companies to invest in Wales. I will be establishing a Wales business advisory group to ensure that I am fully apprised of issues affecting Welsh businesses and what they need to help bring about growth.
Neil Parish
Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton
Does the Secretary of State agree that streamlining regulation and stimulating the private economy will be essential to the Welsh economy?
Dame Cheryl Gillan
The Secretary of State for Wales
My hon. Friend needs very little reply except to say that I wholeheartedly agree with him and will do my best.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
