§ Mr. SpeakerI have to acquaint the House that this House has this day attended Her Majesty in the House of Peers, and that Her Majesty was pleased to make a Most Gracious Speech from the Throne to both Houses of Parliament, of which I have, for greater accuracy, obtained a copy.
I shall direct that the terms of the Gracious Speech be printed in the Votes and Proceedings. Copies are available in the Vote Office.
§ The Gracious Speech was as follows:
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
§ I look forward to visiting New Zealand next February for the 150th anniversary of the treaty of Waitangi and for the Commonwealth Games, and, in June, to paying a State Visit to Iceland and a visit to Canada.
§ My Government will continue to attach the highest priority to national and Western security and to the preservation of peace with freedom and justice. They will stand by their obligations to the NATO Alliance and will continue to sustain the United Kingdom's contribution to Western defence by maintaining adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces.
§ My Government will work for balanced and verifiable measures of arms control. They will continue to play an active part in the Vienna negotiations on the reduction of conventional forces in Europe and the multilateral negotiations in Geneva on the abolition of chemical weapons.
§ My Government will continue to promote improved relations between East and West, and to work for further progress on human rights. They will aim to strengthen still further the present positive relations between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, and to encourage reform in that country. They will lend every possible encouragement and support to the remarkable changes taking place in Poland, Hungary and now in East Germany. They will work to ensure that these take place within a stable Europe.
§ My Government will continue to work with our European Community partners to complete the single market; to enhance economic and monetary co-operation; to reinforce budgetary discipline; and to carry forward the reform of the common agricultural policy. They will play a full part in multilateral negotiations designed to liberalise international trade.
§ My Government will continue to support the right of the Afghan people to choose for themselves a fully representative government. They will continue to work for a peaceful solution to the conflicts in the middle east and to play their part in the search for a settlement in Cambodia. They look forward to the independence of Namibia and will continue to encourage the forces for peaceful change and reconciliation in southern Africa.
§ My Government will continue to play a full part in the United Nations, and in the Commonwealth.
§ My Government will maintain a substantial aid programme. They will continue to support sustainable development policies aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting economic and social progress in developing countries.
§ My Government will maintain their fight against international terrorism; and continue to seek the release of hostages held in Lebanon.
5§ My Government will work vigorously and with determination to restore confidence in Hong Kong, building on the foundation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. They will honour their commitment to the people of the Falkland Islands while seeking further progress in normalising relations with Argentina.
§ Members of the House of Commons
§ Estimates for the public service will be laid before you.
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
§ My Government will continue to pursue firm financial policies designed to reduce inflation and foster the conditions necessary for sustained economic growth. They will continue to promote enterprise and to facilitate the growth of employment.
§ They will maintain firm control of public expenditure so that it continues to fall over time as a proportion of national income, while allowing further improvements in priority services.
§ A Bill will be introduced to assist the financial restructuring of the British Coal Corporation.
§ A Bill will be introduced to facilitate the sale of the Crown Suppliers and of other parts of the Property Services Agency.
§ My Government will continue to attach very great importance to protecting the national and international environment. A Bill will be introduced to provide new powers to control pollution and waste. My Government will work with business, local government, the voluntary sector and local people to regenerate our cities.
§ A Bill will be introduced to strengthen the law on food safety and consumer protection.
§ My Government will continue to develop training and enterprise councils. Legislation will be introduced to make further reforms in industrial relations and trade union law.
§ My Government will vigorously pursue their policies for reducing crime and combating the trafficking and abuse of 6 drugs. A Bill will be introduced to improve the ability of the United Kingdom to co-operate with other countries in the investigation of crime.
§ A Bill will be brought forward to provide for a wider choice of broadcast services, to strengthen the oversight of programme standards, to reform the independent television and radio systems and to implement the other proposals in the broadcasting White Paper.
§ A Bill will be introduced to improve the administration of civil justice and to increase choice in the provision of legal services.
§ My Government will continue to take action to raise standards in education. A Bill will be introduced to supplement students' grants with loans.
§ A Bill will be brought forward to improve the National Health Service and the management of community care.
§ A Bill will be introduced to institute a legal framework for scientific developments on human fertilisation and embryology.
§ For Scotland, legislation will be introduced to establish Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to prepare for the winding up of the new town development corporations, to increase choice in the provision of legal services and to effect certain other law reform measures.
§ In Northern Ireland, my Government will maintain its support for the enforcement of the law and the defeat of terrorism. They will continue to encourage the greater involvement of locally elected representatives in the affairs of Northern Ireland, to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the Province, and to work within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
§ A Bill will be brought forward to improve aviation and maritime security.
§ Legislation will be introduced to make changes to the law relating to social security and occupational pensions.
§ Other measures will be laid before you.
§ My Lords and Members of the House of Commons
§ I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.