§ Message to attend the Lords Commissioners:
§ The House went; and, having returned—
§ Mr. SpeakerI have to acquaint the House that the House has been to the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was read. The Lord High Chancellor, being one of the High Commissioners, delivered Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Commands, as follows:
§ The six weeks' tour of My Realm of Canada which My Dear Husband and 1 undertook this summer was a great happiness to us. It gave us the opportunity to extend our knowledge of that mighty and developing country and to meet personally so many of My Canadian people. It was with special pleasure that, with the President of the United States of America, I opened the St. Lawrence Seaway, a practical illustration both of the co-operation of these two great neighbours and of the increasing industrial strength of the Canadian nation. We were able to make a brief visit to Chicago, where we were deeply impressed by our reception.
795§ I was very glad to welcome President Eisenhower when he came here recently for discussions with My Prime Minister The outstanding welcome extended to the President by My people was a clear testimony to the deep and abiding friendship between our two countries.
§ I was pleased to welcome to this country the Shah of Iran. His Imperial Majesty's visit, and also the Commercial Treaty and the Cultural Convention recently concluded with Iran, symbolise the ties of alliance and friendship between our two countries.
§ In March My Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs paid an official visit to the Soviet Union which has helped to strengthen peaceful relations with that country. Following that visit a five-year Trade Agreement with the Soviet Union was signed.
§ My Government have taken part in the Conference on the Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapons Tests, and progress has been made in drafting an international agreement. My Government have also recently agreed with other Governments, including the Soviet Union, to set up a new body to facilitate further negotiations on general disarmament.
§ My Government have maintained their support of the work of the United Nations and its agencies.
§ My Government have continued to play their full part in the North Atlantic Alliance and the other regional pacts to which they belong.
§ During the year, members of My Family have visited many countries outside the Commonwealth. The warmth and generosity with which they were everywhere received have been a source of lasting pleasure to Me.
§ My heart was warmed also by the great friendliness with which My Dear Husband was greeted when he visited India and Pakistan to attend the Conference of the Indian Science Congress and the Pakistan Association for the Advancement of Science, and by the loyal welcome given him in those of My Territories he visited on his way home.
§ Other members of My Family have made visits to Nigeria, on the introduction of self-government for the Northern Region, and to others of My Territories and Peoples under My Protection in East and West Africa. The 796 loyalty and friendship which met them everywhere has brought Me much happiness.
§ The Commonwealth Education Conference which met in Oxford in July reached agreement on important measures of Commonwealth co-operation in education, including mutual assistance in the supply and training of teachers and in technical education. As part of a Commonwealth scheme, My Government have offered to provide 500 scholarships.
§ I was glad to make My Palace of Marlborough House available for Commonwealth meetings and for other Commonwealth purposes.
§ I was happy that, in co-operation with the Governments of Greece and Turkey and the representatives of the Cypriot communities, My Government were able at the London Conference in February to achieve an agreed foundation for the final settlement of the problem of Cyprus. Energetic action has subsequently been taken both in Cyprus and London towards the establishment of the new Republic.
§ An Order in Council has provided for internal self-government for Jamaica within the Federation of the West Indies. The Constitution of Northern Rhodesia has been advanced. The State of Singapore was inaugurated in June this year.
§ My Government regretted the need for a state of emergency to be declared in Nyasaland. More recently, provision has been made there for increased African participation in the Legislative Council and for the addition of two African members to the Executive Council.
§ An Act has been passed which provides a further £95 millions for Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes in the period up to 1964 and which enables My Government to make loans to Overseas Governments of up to £100 millions towards their development programmes.
§ An Overseas Research Council has been established, to further scientific development in Commonwealth and other countries overseas.
§ My Government have taken the first steps towards developing a British space research programme.
797§ My Armed Forces have continued to play their part in the preservation of peace throughout the world.
§ I thank you for the provision which you have made for the public services.
§ The economic affairs of the country have continued to improve. Production and employment have increased; the balance of payments has been favourable; and prices have remained stable. An Act has been passed providing for substantial assistance from public funds towards the reorganisation and re-equipment of the cotton industry.
§ Legislation has been enacted to remove remaining wartime emergency legislation and other dependent Defence Regulations, and specific statutory provision has been made for such few limited economic controls as are still required.
§ My Government have maintained their support for home agriculture. An Act has been passed to enable special assistance to be given to small farmers.
§ My Government have put into effect plans for further advances in education. An Act has been passed to give more help to denominational schools in England and Wales so that they may play their part in these developments.
§ The law on mental health in England and Wales has been reformed and fresh provisions made for the treatment and care of mental patients.
§ My Government have published a White Paper describing their immediate and long-term plans for meeting the challenge of the increase in crime.
§ I have given My Assent to legislation to improve the basis of compensation for compulsory acquisition of land; to provide for the future management of the New Towns in England and Wales; and to give further encouragement to house-purchase and the modernisation of dwellings.
§ Legislation has been passed to strengthen the Factories Acts.
§ My Government have made a number of advances in the field of pensions. Increased provision has been made for elderly war widows. In National Insurance, increases have been made in 798 the pensions earned by those postponing retirement and the earnings rule has been further relaxed. Legislation has been passed which will place national insurance on a sound financial basis and will introduce a scheme of contributions and supplementary pensions related to earnings for employed people who cannot be covered by an appropriate occupational scheme. Action has also been taken to improve the standard of living of those receiving national assistance.
§ An Act has been passed to increase the pensions of those who have retired from the public services and the pensions of former members of My Armed Forces have also been increased.
§ For Scotland, legislation has been enacted to establish a modern code (or the general regulation of building, and to further the conservation and control of red deer and prevent the illegal and inhumane taking and killing of any deer. A White Paper has been published reviewing the prowess made in the development of the Highlands and Islands and setting out a programme of further development of the basic industries and services which contribute to the economic life of the area.
§ I pray that the blessing of Almighty
§ God may attend you.
§ Then a Commission for proroguing the Parliament was read; after which the Lord Chancellor said:
§ "My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:
§ By virtue of Her Majesty's Commission under the Great Seal, to us and other Lords directed, and now read, we do. in Her Majesty's name and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the twenty-second day of September, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued until Tuesday the twenty-second day of September, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine."
§ End of the Fourth Session (opened 28th October, 1958) of the Forty-first Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the Eighth Year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.