HC Deb 22 October 1969 vol 788 cc1132-6
Mr. Speaker

I have further to acquaint the House that 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:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons

My Husband and I were glad to welcome to this country the President of the Italian Republic and the President of the Republic of Finland. We had the great pleasure of visiting Brazil, Chile and Austria.

My Government have pursued their efforts to promote through the United Nations a settlement to the dispute between the Arab States and Israel.

My Ministers have contributed fully to the tasks of the North Atlantic Alliance. They have continued to work for the relaxation of tension with the countries of Eastern Europe and to seek their co-operation in trade and other practical matters.

My Government have maintained their application for membership of the European Communities.

My Ministers have welcomed the talks in Paris between all the major parties involved in the Vietnam conflict and hope that they will soon make real progress towards peace.

My Government have ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and have striven for further progress on arms control and disarmament. In particular they have put forward proposals for a complete ban on biological methods of warfare.

My Husband and I were pleased to welcome to this country Heads and Representatives of Commonwealth Governments for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Meeting. The Meeting recognised the special ties of cooperation and understanding that link member countries of the Commonwealth and which My Government in the United Kingdom have continued to further.

New constitutions have been introduced in the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands and in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

My Ministers have again sought a return of constitutional rule in Rhodesia in accordance with the multiracial principles approved by Parliament. To that end they have maintained political and economic sanctions under the terms of the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 29th May, 1968. The Governor of Southern Rhodesia announced his resignation on 24th June after receiving My permission to do so. My Government subsequently ordered the closure of the British Residual Mission in Salisbury and Rhodesia House in London.

My Government have been much concerned by the continuing conflict in Nigeria. They have helped with the relief of suffering and starvation and they have contributed to the search for a peaceful settlement.

Further progress was made towards co-operative defence arrangements between our Commonwealth partners in South-East Asia, following upon My Government's decision to withdraw British forces front Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971.

The situation in Northern Ireland has caused My Ministers deep concern. My Forces have carried out their duties there with exemplary steadiness. My Ministers are doing all in their power in co-operation with the Northern Ireland Government to bring peace and reconciliation to the Province.

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

My Government's first aim has been to strengthen the economy so as to achieve a continuing substantial surplus in the balance of payments. The policies which they have pursued have brought about a great improvement in the past year.

My Ministers have taken part in international discussions leading to the decision last month to activate the scheme for Special Drawing Rights.

An Act was passed to make further provision for the introduction of decimal currency in 1971.

A Commission on Industrial Relations has been appointed to examine and promote improvements in the machinery for collective bargaining.

Further progress has been made in regional economic development, and measures have been announced for assistance to industry in selected intermediate areas.

My Government have put forward proposals to help the Lancashire textile industry take its place once again in the forefront of British industry.

An Act has been passed to assist and encourage the development of tourism in Great Britain.

Legislation has been passed to integrate public transport in London under local government control.

An Act has been passed to establish a central system of driver licensing and of vehicle registration and licensing.

Legislation has given My Inspectors of Mines and Quarries and the appropriate local authorities new powers to ensure the safety of tips of mine or quarry refuse.

An Act has been passed to convert the Post Office from a Department of State to a public corporation.

My Government have reviewed the contribution of agriculture to the national economy and have announced an extended programme of selective expansion in the interests of import saving.

Action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on Foot and Mouth Disease, and codes of practice for the welfare of farm animals have been approved.

An Act has been passed for assisting the deep-sea fishing industry and for the policing and conservation of fisheries.

Provision has been made for improvements in the pensions and benefits of the national insurance and supplementary benefits scheme and in war pensions. Legislation has provided for contributions to the national insurance scheme to be increased and to be related more closely to earnings, and proposals have been published for new schemes of national superannuation and social insurance based on contributions related to earnings.

An Act has been passed amending the law in England and Wales relating to children and young persons.

Legislation has been passed to enable the United Kingdom to accede to the United Nations Convention on genocide.

Provision has been made for appeals by Commonwealth citizens and aliens against decisions taken in the exercise of immigration control.

An Act has been passed to raise the limit of Government expenditure on building the National Theatre.

I was pleased to grant a Charter of Incorporation to the Open University and thereby to launch a significant and original venture in higher education.

Legislation has been passed to give greater encouragement for the repair and improvement of older houses and their environment.

An Act has been passed to provide financial assistance for urban areas of special social need.

Legislation has been passed to modernise the Scottish Town and Country Planning system, and to bring up to date the law relating to housing and education in Scotland.

I have appointed a Commission on the Constitution.

The Civil Service Department has been established and steps have been taken to set up a Civil Service College.

Legislation has provided for increased pensions for retired members of the public service and their dependants.

Legislation has reduced the age of majority to 18. The voting age has also been reduced to 18, and other reforms have been made in electoral law.

Further progress has been made in the systematic reform of the law, including that relating to the succession rights of illegitimate children, the jurisdiction of the county court, the trial of personal injury cases, and real property. Steps have been taken to repeal obsolete statutes and improve the form of the Statute Book.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may attend you.

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

End of the Third Session (opened on 30th October, 1968) of the Forty-fourth Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.