HC Deb 27 October 1960 vol 627 cc2582-6
Mr. Speaker

I have further to acquaint the House that the Lord High Chancellor, being one of the Royal Commissioners, delivered Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, in pursuance of Her Majesty's Commands, as follows:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

I am deeply grateful for the many expressions of good will which came to me on the birth of My second Son. Prince Andrew. This year has also brought me the great happiness of My Sister's marriage.

In the course of the year the friendships existing between My People in this country and peoples overseas have been reinforced by a number of visits.

In April I had the special pleasure of welcoming to London the President of the French Republic and Madame de Gaulle. I have been happy to greet here their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand and, ten days ago, the King and Queen of Nepal.

I was glad that the President of Peru was able to meet members of My Family when he came here in February and that I was myself able to receive the President of the Argentine Republic.

I was moved by the warmth and sincerity of the reception accorded to My Husband when he visited New York in June to open the British Exhibition.

My Mother has visited the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland to open the great Kariba Dam. Both she and I were deeply affected by the enthusiastic welcome which she received throughout her journeys in the Federation.

The visits of members of My Family to the Caribbean were a vivid reminder to all My Peoples in that area of their links with the Crown and with My People in the United Kingdom.

My Government have supported the work of the United Nations and its agencies and are taking their full share in the work of the General Assembly.

My Government have continued to play their full part in the North Atlantic Alliance and other regional pacts.

They have continued to take part in the Geneva Conference on the Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapons Tests, in which progress has been made towards agreement on the prohibition of tests under effective international control. They played a notable rôle in the Ten-Nation Committee on Disarmament at Geneva and supported the resolution of the United Nations recommending the earliest possible resumption of international negotiations for disarmament.

Meanwhile My Armed Forces have continued to contribute to peace and order throughout the world.

By the signing of the Antarctic Treaty last December, the twelve Governments concerned, which include My own and those of the United States and the Soviet Union, have agreed to cooperate in the peaceful use of the Continent in the interests of science.

I was most happy to meet, in May, the Prime Ministers and other representatives of Commonwealth countries. Their meeting revealed a wide measure of agreement on international problems, notably on the need to lessen world tensions and to promote the economic and cultural progress of the less-developed countries.

I have given My Assent to an Act which established the independent Republic of Cyprus. Certain Sovereign Base Areas and other military facilities in the island are retained for the United Kingdom and My Government look forward to a long friendship with the new Republic.

Two other countries for which My Government in the United Kingdom have hitherto been responsible have achieved independence. In June I withdrew My protection from the Somaliland Protectorate, confident that the long tradition of friendship between the British and Somali peoples will continue and flourish.

This month Nigeria became the eleventh Member of the Commonwealth. I have shared in the joy with which that great country then received My Cousin, the Princess Alexandra. My Husband and I have very happy memories of our own visit to Nigeria five years ago and we, together with My Government and all My People in the United Kingdom, extend to My People there our warmest good wishes for the future.

I have given My Assent to an Act which reflects the decision of the Government of Ghana to adopt a Republican Constitution.

My Government in the United Kingdom have continued to give financial help to the less-developed countries, and in particular to Commonwealth countries, including loans and grants for development, welfare and reconstruction.

Acts have been passed enabling the United Kingdom to take part in the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and making possible a freer movement of students and teachers between this country and the rest of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council, which met in London in September, agreed to initiate a Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan in order to give further help in raising the standards of life in less-developed Commonwealth countries in Africa.

My Government have published their plan for My Overseas Civil Service, providing greater security for its members and making it easier for territories which achieve self-government to retain them in their employment.

Members of the House of Commons:

I thank you for the provision which you have made for the public services.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

As part of their policy to assist the development of overseas countries, My Government have joined the new International Development Association and are contributing substantially to its resources.

They have ratified the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association, and have taken part in negotiations for remodelling the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation with the United States and Canada as full members.

Support for home agriculture and for the fishing industry has been maintained. My Government have introduced improvement grants for horticultural producers and their co-operative marketing associations. They have brought to a successful conclusion the long campaign for the eradication of tuberculosis in cattle in this country.

An Act has been passed to help to provide additional opportunities for employment in those areas where high and persistent unemployment exists or is threatened.

My Government have announced a substantial increase in the road programme. An Act has been passed to facilitate enforcement of the law on road traffic and to amend the law on parking and traffic regulation.

An Act has been passed to improve the arrangements for licensing air services and to ensure that all airline operators maintain high standards of safety.

Effect has been given to the main recommendations of the Royal Commission on Betting, Lotteries and Gaming, by legislation providing for the registration of bookmakers, permitting the establishment of licensed betting offices, and replacing the outmoded law on gaming by provisions more acceptable to modern opinion.

An Act has been passed which will give added protection to those who invest their savings in building societies.

An Act has been passed to control the location and conditions of caravan sites and to strengthen the procedure for enforcing planning control in England and Wales.

In Scotland the law on mental health has been modernised and new provision made for the care of those who are sick in mind.

Measures have been taken to make legal aid and advice more widely available. The right of appeal to the House of Lords in criminal cases has been extended and the law relating to contempt of court has been amended.

The law relating to charities in England and Wales has been consolidated and reformed, to enable the best use to be made of charitable resources for the benefit of the community.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

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 first day of November, one thousand nine hundred and sixty, to be then here holden; and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued until Tuesday, the first day of November, one thousand nine hundred and sixty.

End of the First Session (opened 20th October, 1959) of the Forty-second Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.