TNAG-0005-FCO40-41-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 93

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Heads of Departments in the Commonwealth

Office and Heads of Joint Departments.

Legislative Programme 1969-70

The Cabinet Office has advised us that it has become clear, in the course of settling the legislative programme for 1968-69, that the 1969-70 programme will put considerable pressure on both drafting resources and Parliamentary time. For example, four major Bills, at least three of considerable length, are already in prospect for the Session. They consider it necessary, therefore, that the 1969-70 programme should be planned, at any rate in its essentials at a rather earlier stage than usual to ensure that the maximum use is made of the available drafting resources and Parliamentary time.

2.

The Cabinet Office has therefore asked us to let them have, for consideration by the Future Legislation Committee, the Commonwealth Secretary's preliminary proposals for legislation, particularly major legislation, in the 1969/70 Parliamentary session. They emphasize, incidentally, that this does not replace the usual request they will be making in due course for full details.

3. Commonwealth Policy and Planning would be grateful if returns (including 'nil' ones) could be sent to Mr. A.H. Ellis, Commonwealth Policy and Planning Department, Room M.S.11, Commonwealth Office, Downing Street, by Thursday 19 September. If it were possible to give any indication of the length of any Bills it would be helpful.

4. It is of course always possible that part of the available time in the 1969/70 session may be taken up by contingent Bills, sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretary, which are at present in the programme for the 1968/69 session but which may not have to be processed in the forthcoming year. If it can be foreseen at this stage that there may be a possible need to defer them to the 1969/70 session they should of course be included in the present return.

(R. C. COX)

Commonwealth Policy and Planning

Department

6 September, 1968.

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