The Wales Office is a United Kingdom government department. It is a replacement for the old Welsh Office, which had extensive responisiblity for governing Wales prior to Welsh devolution in 1998. Its current incarnation is significantly less powerful: it is primarily responsible for carrying out the few functions remaining to the Secretary of State for Wales that have not been transferred already to National Assembly for Wales and securing funds for Wales as part of the annual budget settlement.

The Secretary of State for Wales has overall responsibility for the office but it is located administratively within the Department for Constitutional Affairs. This was carried out as part of the changes announced on 12 June 2003 that were part of a package intended toward replacing the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Ministers of the Wales Office as of 7th November 2004:

• Secretary of State for Wales -- The Rt Hon. Peter Hain (also Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal)
  • Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (administratively situated in the Department for Constitutional Affairs) -- Don Touhig MP

External links and references

• Official website of the Wales Office