Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries: Welsh Department Correspondence and Papers

The Welsh Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, developed from the work of the Agricultural Council for Wales which came into being in 1912. This body was concerned exclusively with agricultural education in Wales and Monmouth and was under the supervision of a Commissioner for Wales. In September, 1919, just prior to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries becoming a Ministry, the Welsh Office was set up and the commissioner was appointed as the board's Secretary for Wales. The board's work and subsequently, the ministry's work on matters affecting Wales was accomplished from the Welsh Office and the secretary became the minister's chief officer in Wales representing the ministry in its dealings with local bodies, and other departments in the principality.

The Welsh Office, which was renamed the Welsh Department in 1922, was responsible for the administrative and executive functions of the ministry for the whole of Wales and the County of Monmouth in respect of horticulture and the administration of the Insects and Pests Acts 1877 and 1907. These functions were delegated to the Welsh Office at its inception. It also assumed responsibility for the administration of grants for County Council Agricultural Education and for the co-ordination of the work of the technical services throughout the area.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act, 1919 the setting up of separate Councils of Agriculture for England and Wales, and the establishment of Agricultural Advisory Committees in England and Wales were authorised for the purpose of assisting the minister in the execution of his powers and duties. The councils were independent bodies which met twice a year for the purpose of discussing in public agricultural matters of public interest. The members, who were appointed by the minister, consisted of landowners, tenant farmers, representatives of agricultural workers, women's representatives and representatives of the Universities. Members of the Agricultural Wages Board and County Agricultural Committees were also appointed. The first Council of Wales was held at Shrewsbury in December, 1920. The advisory committees were formed to make recommendations and advise the minister on all matters submitted to them relating to agriculture or other rural industries.

To facilitate the economic development, and social improvement of areas especially affected by industrial depression the Special Areas (Development and Improvement) Act, 1934 was passed by parliament in December of that year. Under this act the Minister of Labour appointed a Commissioner for England and Wales, and a District Commissioner for each area with responsibilities for the depressed areas. The ministry's contribution to this work was concerned with measures to provide employment, by means of agricultural development and expansion, in liaison with the district commissioner. In this respect the Welsh Department was concerned with land drainage schemes, urban allotments, County Council small holdings and the Welsh Land Settlement Society.

The Welsh Land Settlement Society was formed in 1936 to settle on the land unemployed industrial workers from the Special Areas of Wales and Monmouthshire. The society was financed by advances from the Commissioner for Special Areas; in 1946 the commissioner's responsibilities passed to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and later the land and other interests of the society were transferred to him.

With added responsibilities through the years, and particularly during the 1939-1945 war, the Welsh Department grew in stature and status. When in 1957, following the Arton Wilson Report, many functions previously undertaken at the ministry's headquarters were delegated to the newly formed regional offices in England, the Welsh Department was already exercising Headquarter responsibilities in certain fields. Regionalisation was therefore a much less revolutionary development in Wales than in England and could be grafted on to the Welsh Department's existing structure.