Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits for his Department of merging the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Offices to make a Department for the regions.

I would start by reminding my honourable Friend that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are nations, not regions.

Since my appointment as Secretary of State for Wales, I have taken action to drive down costs within the Wales Office by collaborating with other Government Departments and sharing services.

At the present time I believe the nations are best served by strong Secretaries of State representing their interests around the Cabinet table.