§ 41. Mr. Jesselasked the Lord President of the Council what measures the Government intend to lay before Parliament in the current Session, in addition to those specified in the Gracious Speech.
§ Mr. Edward ShortThe Government propose to bring forward a number of further beneficial measures, in addition to those mentioned in the Gracious Speech.
§ Mr. JesselWhy was there no mention in the Gracious Speech of a Bill to do with the wearing of seat belts in cars?
§ Mr. ShortIt is quite impossible to mention in the Queen's Speech all the Bills to be introduced. For example, in the last Session we received the Royal Assent for 75 Bills, but only 20 measures were mentioned in the Queen's Speech.
§ Mr. Raphael TuckDoes not my right hon. Friend think that it might be beneficial to introduce a Bill to reform the House of Lords? Does he not agree that, just because a man has been careful in selecting his parents, he ought not to be able to govern this country? Does he also not agree that the power to delay in the House of Lords should be limited to one month?
§ Mr. ShortWithout commenting on the genetic assumptions that my hon. Friend is making, I said that I felt that this was a matter for very careful and cool appraisal.
§ Mr. MayhewWhen do the Government propose to honour the undertaking they have given to Oxfam to restore to charity shops the rating relief that they enjoyed before the recent House of Lords decision in the Oxfam case earlier this year?
§ Mr. ShortThat is a question that the hon. and learned Gentleman must put to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. KinnockIn addition to those matters specified in the Queen's Speech, in view of the major and irreversible nature of any devolutionary change will 484 my right hon. Friend give further and more generous consideration to the proposition, made by several hon. Members on both sides of the House, for a referendum on the matter, so that he can find out exactly how the people feel and how much devolution they want and where they want it?