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Welsh Affairs

Before I begin my contribution, I should like to pay tribute to my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Hain), for the work that he did, not only as Secretary of State for Wales, but as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Many people's lives in our country have improved because of his work. This debate is sometimes called the St. David's day debate, but as you will know, Mr. Speaker, St. David's day is on Saturday. It is in fact the feast day of St. Llibio, a sixth-century hermit from the island of Anglesey. Nevertheless, we can say that we are almost on the eve of St. David's day. Just a few moments ago, a large number of Members of both Houses were privileged to attend the St. David's day service at St. Mary's Undercroft. I pay tribute to all those who organised the service, and particular tribute to the two schools who sang at the service—the London Welsh school and the Welsh school from Abercarn. It was an excellent start to our deliberations on Welsh matters. Some people say that we should not have a Welsh day debate, and that since devolution arrived, there is no need for it, but I do not agree. It gives us an opportunity to debate and deliberate, and to celebrate our country. We have had a Welsh day debate since 1944, when the then Member for Ebbw Vale, Aneurin Bevan, addressed the House. It was in 2002 when I last spoke as Secretary of State in a similar debate, almost six years ago to the day. I reread my speech—I do not do that often, to be perfectly honest—and what struck me was that the Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies), made his maiden speech on that day, and I welcomed him to the House. Who would have thought that, six years later, he would wind up the St. David's day debate in the Chamber? I also reflected on what has happened in Wales in the six years between my leaving office and returning to it. Of course, we could talk, as we do in Welsh questions and on other occasions, about improvements to our public services—to the health service and education—and about the environment and local government. Those are largely now issues for the National Assembly for Wales. However, as the House of Commons determines the Assembly's finances, as Parliament must do, we, too, play our part in ensuring that our hospitals, schools and public services generally in Wales improve.