Britain: An official handbook > 1977

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BRITAIN I977: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
of State’s work has been strengthened by the establishment of a Welsh Develop¬
ment Agency, responsible to him, with important industrial and environ¬
mental functions. The Secretary of State has certain responsibilities relating
to the national library and the national museum. He is assisted by two Parlia¬
mentary Under Secretaries of State.
The Welsh Office maintains close and continuous working relationships
with the government departments mainly concerned with economic and
industrial affairs through the Welsh Planning Board. Advice on the implica¬
tions for Wales of national policies, particularly in the economic field, is also
available to the Secretary of State through the Welsh Council. The Welsh
Office is in Cardiff; there is also a small ministerial office in London.
SCOTLAND Scotland has its own system of law and a wide measure of administrative
autonomy. The Secretary of State for Scotland, a United Kingdom Cabinet
minister, has responsibility in Scotland (with some exceptions) both for the
formulation of policy and for its execution in such matters as agriculture and
fisheries, education, local government and environmental services, social
work, health, housing, roads and certain aspects of shipping and road trans¬
port services. He is also responsible for a range of other functions from police
and fire services to sport and tourism. At ministerial level he is assisted by two
Ministers of State and three Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State.
The United Kingdom Government’s administrative functions arising from
these responsibilities are carried out principally by five Scottish departments
based in Edinburgh and known collectively as the Scottish Office. A manage¬
ment group including five heads of departments under the chairmanship of
the Permanent Under Secretary of State advises the Secretary of State,
particularly on questions, such as the allocation of resources and forward
planning, with which more than one of the departments are concerned.
The Secretary of State also has a major and expanding role in the planning
and development of the Scottish economy. He has important additional
functions related to industrial development, with the establishment of the
Scottish Development Agency which is responsible to him, and his assumption
of responsibility for selective financial assistance to industry in Scotland.
He plays a full part in the Government’s determination of energy policy
and exercises a co-ordinating function over activities in Scotland—such as
the location of industry, the creation of employment and the land-based
facilities needed for North Sea oil—which are not his direct responsibility
but have an important effect on the country’s economy. United Kingdom
government departments with significant Scottish responsibilities have offices
in Scotland with delegated powers, and work closely with the Scottish Office.
The Secretary of State is responsible for legal services in Scotland, and other
important functions are exercised by the two Scottish Law Officers: the Lord
Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland. On many domestic matters,
in order to reflect distinctive Scottish features and the different conditions
and needs of the country and its people, there is separate legislation relating
wholly to Scotland, or else clauses of special application to Scotland only are
inserted in Acts which otherwise apply to the United Kingdom generally.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland has a general re¬
sponsibility for, and in most cases administers, government measures for the
promotion and development of farming in Scotland. It also has responsibilities
for the oversight and protection of the Scottish inshore, deep sea and fresh¬
water fisheries, and functions relating to certain harbours.
The Department
of Agriculture
and Fisheries
for Scotland