TNAG-1334-FCO40-1766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1984 — Page 122

CONFIDENTIAL

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Circular Home 'B' 93/84

LG 012/3

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1985/86 AND 1986/87

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1H 9NL

14 November 1984

1. In Circular Home ‘B' 8/84 of 1 October 1984 you were asked to consider what Bills you will wish to propose for the 1985/86 legislative programme and for advance places in 1986/87.

2.

The Cabinet Office have now asked for our proposals for legislation in the 1985/86 Session of Parliament and (on the limited terms explained below) the 1986/87 Session; and proposals for Bills which might be offered to Private Members in 1985/86. Details should be included of those Bills which have already been awarded places in the Government programme for 1985/86 on the basis that instructions to Parliamentary Counsel would be delivered not later than January 1985.

Government Bills in 1985/86

3.

We are asked to set out our proposals in the form shown at Annex A. Notes on the completion of Annex A are also attached and it would be appreciated if you would follow them closely. The entries should be grouped by category of Bill, and numbered in order of priority within each category.

4.

The Cabinet Office say that it is not possible at this stage to give specific guidance about the size and shape of the programme Ministers will wish to have in 1985/86. But in compiling bids it should be assumed that the Session will be of normal length, beginning in October or early November. The number of bids is usually double the number of places which can be made available, and importance will therefore attach to the order of priority in which we list our bids and what is said about their timing. If Royal Assent is required before the end of the Session - ie October or November 1986 if there is a spillover - the date should be specified and the reason given. Estimates about preparation time and comments about state of readiness must be realistic, taking account in parlicular of any time needed for public consultation, and of the length of time (frequently underestimated by Departments) likely to be needed to draft Bills. Unrealistic estimates, of which there were a large number in the bids for 1984/85 (particularly as regards delivery of drafting instructions), cause difficulties in the management of Parliamentary business which can operate to the disadvantage of all Departments.

Government Bills in 1986/87

5.

Because some Bills take longer to prepare than the normal one-year cycle allows, bids are also invited for a handful of places in the 1986/87 programme. Selection will be confined to Bills which are important and will clearly need a long time to prepare; and to which Departments are prepared to devote sufficient staff at an early stage to have full instructions to Parliamentary Counsel ready by the end of January 1986. Bills which do not meet these criteria should be the subject of bids next year when the full 1986/87 programme will be considered. A Bill may be proposed simultaneously for 1985/86 and 1986/87, or solely for one Session. In either case, a copy of Annex A should be used. You will wish to bear in mind that 1986/87 is likely to be the last full-length Session before the next General Election.

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CONFIDENTIAL