12
THE QUEEN'S SPEECH
My government will encourage community agreements with central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and will support democratic reform there.
They will maintain the fight against terrorism in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. They will energetically pursue policies to combat the trafficking and misuse of drugs. My government will play an active part in the Commonwealth. They will support efforts to build a democratic society in South Africa.
My government will maintain a substantial aid programme to reduce poverty in developing countries. Its objectives will include promoting good government, sensible economic policies and respect for human rights. They will continue to press creditor countries for a further reduction in the official debt of the poorest countries. The United Kingdom will work for a successful outcome to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
My government will continue to administer Hong Kong justly and efficiently, in the interests of its people, and to co-operate with China on the basis of the Sino-British Joint Declaration to promote the political and economic development of the territory.
Members of the House of Commons. Estimates for the public service will be laid before you. My Lords and Members of the House of Commons. My government will pursue, within the framework of the exchange-rate mechanism, firm financial policies designed to achieve price stability and maintain the conditions necessary for sustained growth. They will set policy in the medium term to ensure that the United Kingdom meets the convergence criteria set out in the Maastricht Treaty.
They will reduce the share of national income taken by the public sector and balance the budget over the medium term, reducing taxes when it is prudent to do so. They will promote market mechanisms and incentives and improve the working of the economy. To help business, legislation will be introduced to amend the non-domestic rate transitional arrangements.
A bill will be introduced to improve further the law on industrial relations. My government will pursue vigorously their programme of privatisation. Legislation will be introduced to return British Coal to the private sector.
My government are committed to increasing the role of the railways in meeting the country's transport needs. Legislation will be introduced to enable the private sector to operate rail services.
My government will give priority to improving public services through the citizen's charter, which will be at the centre of decision-making. Steps will be taken to apply charter principles through-out the public service.
My government will continue to work to raise standards at all levels of
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