HL Deb 07 November 1986 vol 481 cc1254-8
The Lord Chancellor

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we are commanded to deliver to you Her Majesty's Speech in Her Majesty's own words.

"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons.

"The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to receive the State Visits of His Highness the Amir of Qatar in November, their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain in April, and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Freifrau von Weizaecker in July.

"We recall with great pleasure the State Visit to Nepal followed by visits to New Zealand and Australia earlier this year, as well as the recent State Visit to the People's Republic of China and the visit to Hong Kong.

"My Government have attached great importance to relations with countries in the Far East. This was marked by the Prime Minister's visit to the Republic of Korea in May and by visits here of the President of the Republic of Korea in April and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in June.

"My Government and the Chinese Government have made good progress in carrying out the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong.

"My Government have enhanced the United Kingdom's defences and played a full part in the Atlantic Alliance. My Government have worked vigorously for balanced and verifiable agreements on arms control in respect of nuclear, chemical and conventional weapons, keeping in close consultation with the United Kingdom's allies. They were active at the Stockholm Conference on disarmament in Europe which reached agreement in September. They have continued to seek improved relations with the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe.

"My Government have assumed the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Community. My Government signed the Single European Act to amend the Treaty of Rome and legislation to give effect to it has been passed.

"My Government have worked to bring about peaceful and fundamental change in South Africa in consultation with their partners in the European Community and with the Commonwealth. They have supported efforts to restore the independence and non-aligned status of Afghanistan and Cambodia. My Government have honoured their commitments to the people of the Falkland Islands, while continuing to seek more normal relations with Argentina.

"My Government welcomed the resolution adopted at the United Nations Special Session on Africa concerning the economic recovery and development of African countries. They have provided substantial emergency assistance to victims of famine in Africa, both directly and through the European Community.

"My Government have worked hard for the launching of a new round of multilateral trade negotiations within the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade. They welcome this initiative believing that a successful outcome to the negotiations will preserve and strengthen the world's open trading system.

"My Government have made vigorous efforts to combat international terrorism and trafficking in drugs.

"My Government have signed a treaty with the Government of France for a Channel Tunnel to be financed by private capital. Legislation has been introduced to enable the treaty to be ratified.

"My Government and the Governments of the Cayman Islands and the United States of America have signed a treaty relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. My Government have introduced measures for the better administration of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"Members of the House of Commons I thank you for the provision which you have made for the honour and dignity of the Crown and for the Public Service.

"My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, my Government's policies have been successful in reducing inflation to levels not seen for almost 20 years. The output of the nation continues to expand and the number of people in work continues to grow.

"In order to give more help to the unemployed, my Government have through the Wages Act removed some outdated obstacles to the creation of new jobs and have expanded existing employment and training measures including the introduction of the national Restart programme for the long term unemployed and the expansion of the Community Programme and the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. The 'Action for Jobs' information campaign has been introduced to ensure that employers, employees and unemployed people know what help is available to them.

"My Government continue to attach the highest importance to the education and training of young people and to improving the links between school and work. The new two year Youth Training Scheme was launched successfully and the Technical and Vocational Education Initative has been expanded to a nationwide programme offering the opportunity of participation to all those between 14 and 18 years of age at school.

"My Government have taken additional initiatives to encourage enterprise and improve the performance of the economy. The basic rate of income tax has been further reduced.

"Continuing my Government's programme of encouraging greater industrial efficiency and promoting wider share ownership, legislation has been enacted to provide for the setting up of new regulatory arrangements for the gas supply and airports industries and for the sale of shares in British Gas and the British Airports Authority to the public. An Act was also passed to enable the Atomic Energy Authority to operate as a trading fund from 1 April 1986 with a capital structure and borrowing powers. The remaining warship yards of British Shipbuilders have been sold as have my Government's residual shares in Cable and Wireless. The National Bus Company has begun to sell its undertakings to the private sector including sales to managers and employees.

"An Act has been passed to enable building societies to increase the range of services offered to the public and to provide a new statutory framework for their supervision.

"Legislation has been passed to extend and reform the regulation of investment business. This will protect the interest of investors while encouraging the continued development of strong, efficient and competitive financial services.

"Legislation has been enacted to improve the management of schools in England and Wales and to promote the professional effectiveness of teachers.

"An Act has been passed giving further effect to my Government's policies towards agriculture and the countryside.

"Legislation has been passed to encourage the sale of publicly owned flats to their tenants and the wider involvement of private business in the ownership and management of council housing, and to improve the planning system.

"Legislation has been enacted to prohibit expenditure on party political publicity by local authorities and to require local authorities to make a rate by 1 April each year.

"An Act has been passed to reform social security.

"In Northern Ireland, the security forces have continued the fight against terrorism with courage and dedication. My Government have entered into an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Ireland which they believe can benefit all the people of Northern Ireland and help achieve greater peace and stability.

"For Scotland, measures have been passed to extend the rights of public sector tenants, facilitate the private ownership of public sector housing and improve the building control system, and to improve legal aid arrangements.

"Further progress, has been made in the consolidation of statute law. Legislation has been passed for England and Wales to set fair time limits for cases involving latent damage; provision has been made to settle conflicts of law relating to child abduction within the United Kingdom, and to reform the law of land registration and the administration of funds by the Public Trustee and other authorities.

"An Act has been passed to enable the courts in England and Wales to confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking, and to penalise those who assist traffickers to retain the benefit of such proceeds.

"An Act has been passed to reform the law relating to public order.

"Legislation has been enacted to establish improved arrangements for the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.

"An Act has been passed to modify and extend the management structure of salmon fisheries in Scotland and to introduce further measures to prevent illegal fishing in Great Britain.

"Proposals have been made to extend the accountability of local authorities and for other reforms in the finance of local government.

"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 which has been now read we do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, prorogue this Parliament to Wednesday the twelfth day of this instant November, to be then here holden, and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Wednesday, the twelfth day of this instant November.

Parliament was prorogued at ten minutes past ten o'clock.