HC Deb 11 July 1977 vol 935 cc25-6
34. Mr. Gow

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied with the progress of the Government's legislative programme as announced in the Queen's Speech; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Foot

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th June to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas).

Mr. Gow

Will the Lord President confirm that the Government have now dropped their proposals to take the ship repairing industry into public ownership and to introduce a Bill to remove the restrictions on local authorities to employ direct labour in the construction industry? Will he also tell the House whether, if those measures have been dropped, it is in deference to the alliance with the Liberal Bench or for what other reasons the Government are abandoning their commitments in the Queen's Speech?

Mr. Foot

Neither of those propositions would stand much chance of getting through the House if we sought to introduce them this Session. We are applying common sense to the position. As for the next and subsequent Sessions, I invite the hon. Gentleman and the House to await the two Queen's Speeches which will follow.

Sir D. Walker-Smith

Although there is clearly much to approve and to jettison in the content of the legislative programme, may I ask whether the Lord President has yet given his attention to the recent publication of Sir William Gale's book suggesting possible methods for improving the drafting, formulation and consideration of legislation?

Mr. Foot

There is not only the proposal to which the right hon. and learned Gentleman refers but there are the recommendations made by the Renton Committee on the subject. The Government have taken account of all those recommendations. I am sure that those discussions will be of considerable help to the parliamentary draftsmen, who are the most important people in some respects in helping and assisting the House. We are always eager to see whether we can improve the drafting of parliamentary legislation.

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