1253
Prorogation:
[ 7 NOVEMBER 1986]
Her Majesty's Speech
1254
House of Lords
Friday, 7th November, 1986.
The House met at half-past nine of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers-Read by the Lord Bishop of Ely.
Royal Commission
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone): My Lords, it not being convenient for Her Majesty to be personally present here this day, she has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared for proroguing this present Parliament.
Then, the Lords Commissioners (being the Lord Chancellor, The Viscount Whitelaw, The Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe. The Lord Diamond and The Lord Elwyn-Jones) being present and the Commons being at the Bar, the Lord Chancellor said: My Lords and Members of the House of Commons. Her Majesty, not thinking fit to be personally present here at this time, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, and thereby given her Royal Assent to divers Acts and a Measure which have been agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, the Titles whereof are particu- larly mentioned, and by the said Commission hath commanded Us to declare and notify Her Royal Assent to the said several Acts and Measure, in the presence of you the Lords and Commons assembled for that purpose; and hath also assigned to Us and other Lords directed full power and authority in Her Majesty's name to prorogue this present Parliament. Which Commission you will now hear read.
A Commission for Royal Assent and Prorogation was read.
The Lord Chancellor: In obedience to Her Majesty's Commands, and by virtue of the Commission which has been now read, We do declare and notify to you, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled, that Her Majesty hath given Her Royal Assent to the several Acts and Measure in the Commission mentioned: and the Clerks are required to pass the same in the usual Form and Words.
The following Bills and Measure received the Royal Assent:
Family Law Act,
Parliamentary Constituencies Act,
Public Trustee and Administration of Funds Act, European Communities (Amendment) Act, Sex Discrimination Act,
Financial Services Act,
Education (No. 2) Act,
Salmon Act,
Housing and Planning Act,
Public Order Act.
Housing (Scotland) Act,
National Health Service (Amendment) Act, Milford Haven Port Authority Act.
HL 39 P2
Blyth Harbour Act, Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour Act, Deacons (Ordination of Women) Measure.
Prorogation: Her Majesty's Speech
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