TNAG-1243-FCO40-1557-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 164

Circular Home 'B' 109/83

LG 012/5

IMMEDIATE

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1H 9NL

17 November 1983

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1984-85

The Cabinet Office have started the process of putting together the Government legislative programme for the forthcoming Session rather earlier than in the past and have at the same time asked us to identify subjects on which Bills might be offered to Private Members successful in next Session's ballot. They hope that these changes will enable detailed policy and drafting work to be spread over a longer period and where possible to be completed in advance of the new Session, thereby reducing logjams later. They wish to know by 14 December of any Bills which may be required by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the 1984/85 Session of Parliament including any Bills which have already been given places in the programme for that Session.

Government Bills

2. We are asked to set out our proposals on the attached pro-forma at Annex G. This is slightly changed from the equivalent form used in previous years. Notes on the completion of Annex G are also attached, and these should be followed closely (they conclude with an illustrative example taken from last year's bids). The entries should be grouped by category of Bill and numbered in order of priority within each category.

3. The Cabinet Office say that it is not possible at this stage to give absolutely clear guidance about the size and shape of the programme Ministers will wish to have. But in compiling bids you should take account of the following considerations. It should be assumed that the 1984/85 Session will be of normal length, and it is intended that it should begin in October. There is likely to be substantial legislation on local government matters, and this may mean that the rest of the programme has to be shorter than usual. Particular importance will therefore attach to the order in which we list our bids and what is said about their timing. It is not sufficient to say by when Royal Assent is wanted; the reason or reasons must also be given, Estimates about timing and comments about the state of readiness must be realistic, and in particular should take account of the length of time it will take to have the Bill properly drafted. Estimates which prove to be unrealistic will cause problems for all concerned later on and may cause business managers to press for a Bill to be dropped from the programme.

Private Members' Bills

4.

Proposals should be listed on the pro-forma at Annex PM and show the Bills which we considered suitable, and which can be made ready, for offering to Private Members of the House of Commons who are successful in the ballot for Bills which will take place at the beginning of the 1984/85 Session. The purpose of putting together this list now is to avoid a rush of requests for policy clearance and drafting authority at the beginning of the Session when there is already considerable pressure of work on Government Bills. Once proposals have been considered and

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CONFIDENTIAL