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1. THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL said that the whole Cabinet joined in congratulating the Prime Minister on the outcome of the Conservative Party leadership election earlier that week. The result was a recognition of the Government's achievements under her leadership over the last 10 years, and the support which the result had affirmed would sustain and carry forward those achievements.
The Cabinet -
Warmly endorsed the Lord President of the Council's remarks and congratulated the Prime Minister on her success in the Conservative Party leadership election.
NFIDENTIAL
MENTARY
Leaders Election
Parliamentary Business
&
The Cabinet were informed of the business to be taken in the House of Compns in the following week and that, subject to the progress of business, it was proposed that the House should rise for the Chistmas adjournment on Thursday 21 December until Monday 8 Jaua
THE LORD PRESID
990.
THE COUNCIL said that the programme for the remaining Parliamentary sittings until Christmas was tightly packed. Nevertheless good progress had been made in launching
the Government's live programme for the session.
NFIDENT
War Crimes
Previous Reference: CC(89) 26.5
THE HOME SECRETARY said that
perso
siew in favour of port of the War Crimes position front bench
here would be a 3-hour debate on a motion on war crimes in the House of Commons the following Tuesday. He would intervene in the debate to set out various considerations for the benefite House and, with some reluctance, would express a perso legislating as recommended by the Inquiry. He understood that the spokesman was likely to take a similar line. There would be a free vote at the end of the debate, the outcome of which was difficult to predict although a majority in favour of legislation seemed likely. He would be refl in his remarks not to commit the Government on its subsections which would have to be decided in the light of a number of factors, including the attitude of the House of Lords.
In a brief discussion, it was noted that in a debate the House of Lords on war crimes the previous Monday the great majority of speakers (including the opposition's front bench spokesman in his closing speech) had opposed legislation,
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