I am Secretary of State for Wales - the Wales Office has not been abolished Peter Hain MP

Critics rounded on the prime minister on Thursday after he appeared to move Wales' and Scotland's Westminster voices to a new Department for Constitutional Affairs in London.

But Mr Hain told BBC Radio Wales on Friday morning: "I am ... Secretary of State for Wales. The Wales Office has not been abolished."

As confusion reigned over the new make-up of Wales' cabinet representation, he said Downing Street could have communicated the reshuffle better.

Scrapped

Mr Hain was handed the Leader of the House post and the new role of Minister for Wales in a move which MPs from all parties said was an insult.

Lord Falconer heads a new constitution department

The Wales and Scotland Offices were said to have been scrapped and moved into London's new constitution department, headed by Lord Falconer.

But Mr Hain has now said: "I am also Secretary for State for Wales, and I am delighted to be so.

"It was made crystal clear to me when the prime minister spoke to me yesterday.

The big decisions - on money, legislation, or speaking at the cabinet - remain the duty of Peter Hain Rhodri Morgan AM

"I will be speaking for Wales around the cabinet table, being Wales' voice in Westminster and Westminster's voice in Wales.

"The Wales Office has not been abolished. Don Touhig will be staying on as my deputy.

"In the comings and goings, this whole issue could have been communicated far more effectively from Downing Street, but there you are.

Tony Blair's reshuffle was roundly criticised in Wales

"I think everybody always accepted that devolution was always going to change the role of the secretary of state and Wales Office."

His response left a question mark over the division of responsibility between former Millennium Dome minister Lord Falconer and Mr Hain.

But Mr Hain - who marries his partner Elizabeth Haywood on Saturday - insisted he would continue to be the face of Wales at the cabinet.

He said he would continuing duties including negotiating the assembly's budget allocation, taking legislation through the Commons and liaising with Rhodri Morgan.

Big decisions

First Minister Mr Morgan said: "I have seen nothing in writing.

"But it is my understanding that he is, in effect, the Secretary of State for Wales, though obviously not on a full-time basis.

"The big decisions - on money, legislation, or speaking at the cabinet - remain the duty of Peter Hain."

Many Welsh duties at Westminster have been reduced by devolved powers, which had prompted many to forecast a slimming down of the Welsh and Scottish Secretaries.

Devolution

"It was not a matter of if this would happen, but when this would happen," Mr Morgan added.

Some MPs are not sure where power lies

He said Welsh cabinet responsibility would be split between the Department for Constitutional Affairs and Mr Hain, whose new part-time role can also accommodate his Leader of the House role.

Lord Falconer will "oversee the relationships between Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland on an all-UK basis".

He was due for further discussions with Mr Hain and Lord Falconer in a Friday morning conference call.

Reaction

MPs from all parties had variously labelled Thursday's move "disastrous", "a dog's breakfast" and "wrong", demanding a U-turn.

They included MPs from Labour.

Mr Hain added: "I can understand people being unsettled about it.

"But I just want to reassure everybody that I will continue with my ambition of creating a world-class Wales."