Crabb "delighted" to join Welsh Office (From Western Telegraph)

Crabb "delighted" to join Welsh Office

12:50pm Saturday 15th September 2012 in News

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb has been appointed junior minister in the Wales Office.

Mr Crabb’s promotion comes as previous number two David Jones was appointed Welsh Secretary.

Mr Crabb is now Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Wales Office. He will keep his role as a Government whip.

The move will see him working closely with Mr Jones and fellow, newly appointed, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Jenny Randerson – who sits in t h e House o f Lords – as they focus on economic growth in Wales and developing a closer partnership with the Welsh Government in Cardiff.

As a new Lords Commissioner, Mr Crabb will also have an enhanced role in the Government Whips Office under the new Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell MP.

Mr Crabb said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at the Wales Office to support the new Secretary of State. It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be asked by the Prime Minister to do this job on behalf of Wales and I look forward to the new challenge. The key focus for the Wales Office now will be the economy. We have been asked to make this our top priority which will mean working in closer partnership with the Welsh Government to maximise economic development opportunities for Wales.”

Mr Crabb assured constituents that, despite an increase in workload, he would not neglect Pembrokeshire and his schedule of Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the county would not change.

“I am looking forward to spending more time in Wales in my new role as I have been largely based in London for the majority of the working week,”

he said.

“I expect to be travelling between London and Cardiff frequently. But the one thing that won’t change is the amount of time I spend on my work in Preseli Pembrokeshire.

“The interests of my constituents have always come first.

“I am committed to making both Wales and Pembrokeshire a top priority in Westminster and I look forward to working closer with the Welsh Government to deliver real results for Wales.”