V.029/87
Chinese Government to carry out the Sino-British Joint Declaration. They will play their full part in the United Nations and the Commonwealth. They will seek peaceful and lasting solutions to the most difficult international problems, including those of the Middle East and Southern Africa. They will work for the restoration of an independent and non-aligned Afghanistan.
My Government will maintain their substantial aid programme. They will pursue proposals for international action on debt to help some of the poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
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 policies of sound financial management designed further to reduce inflation and to promote enterprise and increased employment. They will maintain firm control of public expenditure so that it continues to fall as a proportion of national income and permits further reductions in the burden of taxation. Legislation will be brought forward shortly to implement the tax changes proposed in the last Budget but not yet enacted.
My Government will consult the Manpower Services Commission with a view to providing a comprehensive employment service for unemployed people. There will be guaranteed places on the Youth Training Scheme for school leavers under 18 who do not go into employment. Legislation will be introduced to enable benefit to be withheld from those who refuse a place.
My Government will take action to raise standards throughout education and to extend parental choice. Legislation will be introduced to provide for a national curriculum for schools, delegation of school budgets and greater autonomy for schools. It will also reform the structure of education in Inner London, give greater independence to polytechnics and certain other colleges and support the establishment of city technology colleges.
Measures will be brought before you to effect a major reform of housing Legislation in England and Wales.
In all these policies, my Government will have special regard to the needs of inner cities. Action will be taken to encourage investment and to increase enterprise and employment in those areas.
A Bill will be introduced to abolish domestic rates in England and Wales and to make new arrangements for the finance of local government.
Measures will be introduced to promote further competition in the provision of local authorities' services.
Legislation will be introduced to enable the water and sewerage functions of the water authorities in England and Wales to be privatised.
My Government remain determined to tackle the problems of crime.