New Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has promised to put Wales first even though he is to continue driving through the government�s agenda on Europe.

Mr Hain, promoted to the Cabinet for the first time in Tony Blair's mini reshuffle, dismissed doubts about his commitment to the Wales job ahead of his first meeting with the Welsh Assembly leader Rhodri Morgan.

"I am absolutely certain my number one task is Wales

Peter Hain

The Neath MP was returning to the Welsh Office in Cardiff, which he occupied as a junior minister before the vote for devolution, to discuss campaigns for the assembly

He promised to deliver a "first-class" service to Wales, even though he will continue to work on the Convention on the Future of Europe, his priority in his previous role as Europe minister.

"I am absolutely certain my number one task is Wales and when I have got some hours left I will do some work with the convention.

"I will be getting even less sleep but I don't think anybody has ever accused me of doing my job in a lethargic fashion."

Mr Hain also insisted his dual responsibilities would not pave the way for the abolition of the Welsh Secretary's post.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan was also keen to repeat his assurances that the two leaders for Wales could work together - even though they were opposed when Mr Hain was campaign manager for Alun Michael's successful election as Welsh labour leader.

Mr Hain is Mr Morgan's conduit to the Cabinet

The relationship between the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Secretary - Wales' direct link to the Westminster Cabinet table - is crucially important.

"That is the only campaign when we have been on different sides, " said Mr Morgan.

"On every other occasion we have been on the same side and there is no reason to pick out that one."

The duo are far from strangers - each was a strong devolution advocate in the run-up to 1997's successful devolution referendum.

After the "yes" vote and the former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies' dramatic fall from grace, however, Mr Hain backed Blairite candidate Alun Michael, and pointedly not Mr Morgan, in the battle to head up the inaugural assembly.

Co-operation talk

Both politicians were quick to bury the hatchet on Thursday, pledging to work together to build a "world-class Wales".

Morgan signalled a cross-party welcome for the new Welsh Secretary.

Full of praise, Mr Morgan said: "He was a brilliant [devolution] campaigner. I hope [he will be] helping us win a Labour majority on 1 May, 2003.

"A big effort by the Secretary of State for Wales can make the difference between not winning a majority and winning a majority."

"That's history," Mr Hain said of the assembly rift. "I've been a longstanding friend of Rhodri; we share the same vision for Wales and I want to work with him."

Plaid Cymru "cautiously welcomed" the appointment - but warned the "bitter struggle" with Mr Morgan was "sure to lead to tensions" and re-open old wounds in the run-up to the election.

The Conservatives' Welsh Assembly leader Nick Bourne warned Mr Hain's continuing role looking at the European Convention - on EU reform - should not detract from his new job.

Tory Welsh affairs spokesman Nigel Evans said Wales needed stability "and not constant musical chairs of leading politicians".

Liberal Democrats' assembly leader Mike German said he hoped Mr Hain would "help the assembly gain the power and income it needs" - hinting at greater powers for the assembly.