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PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE
39
WHITEHALL, LONDON SWIA 2AT
28 July 1992
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In accordance with paragraph 67 i. of Questions of Procedure for Ministers, I write to seek formal clearance for the Lord President to be out of the country on an official visit to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong and, in accordance with paragraph 75 of Questions of Procedure for Ministers, for Mrs Newton to accompany him at official expense.
The visit is planned for 5-23 September inclusive, with official engagements in Australia from 7-13 September, New Zealand from 14-19 September and Hong Kong on 21 and 22 September.
With the possible exception of a few days away from home with Mrs Newton at the end of August, this will be the Lord President's only break during the summer recess. He is covering for the Lord Privy Seal during his absence from 31 July to 21 August and also chairing the meetings of the No. 12 Committee during August when the Chief Whip is away.
Because detailed timings of the visit are only now being confirmed. to fit in with other ministerial absences, we do not yet know whether both Governments will offer "Guest of Government" status to the Lord President; but from informal contacts we understand that the New Zealand authorities are well disposed towards the visit. The Lord President has discussed his plans for visiting Hong Kong with the new Governor, who welcomes the prospect of the visit.
The primary focus of the visit to Australia and New Zealand is parliamentary reform. Both Australia and New Zealand have a system of prelegislative scrutiny of Bill, and there is increasing pressure for the UK Government to indicate support for something similar.
The Jellicoe Committee has already recommended using Lords Select Committees in this way to examine legislation prior to Second Reading, citing the Australian system as a model, and we know that the Hansard Society Commission on the Legislative Process is thinking along similar lines. Against the background of a commitment to parliamentary reform, it will be difficult to ignore completely the views of, for example, the Hansard Society. The Lord President therefore feels that it makes sense to find out in detail from practitioners in the Australian and New Zealand Parliaments
both Government Ministers and parliamentarians serving on the Committees involved in this sort of scrutiny - how their systems of prelegislative scrutiny work in practice. This will enable him, when he gives evidence to the Hansard Society, to put across any reservations the Government is likely to have in a way that will carry considerably more weight.