CAB128-94_A1b — Page 124

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 124

NFIDEN

ograms 88/89 an 1989/90

1.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL informed the Cabinet, on a confidential basis, of the proposed date for the State opening of Parliament. He said that pressure on the legislative programmes in the present session and the next one was very heavy. A number of major Bills to be considered in the Parliamentary spillover were facing substantial amendment: he was, in particular, discussing with the Secretary of State for the Environment the

rospects for reducing the number of amendments to the

cal Government and Housing Bill. It would be helpful if alcolleagues with an interest in Bills presently before Parliament would take a very rigorous view of proposals for

the amendment and would also ensure that as many ameements to the Bills as possible were tabled by the time the House resumed. The programme for the 1989/90 session seemed, if anything, even heavier than the present one, and in view of the desirability of starting the fourth session of the present Parliament as close to the conventional time as possible, he was in touch with a number of colleagues as possibly about the sble postponement of several items in the programme provisionally agreed by the Cabinet in March. Ministers with remaining in the programme should ensure that instons were delivered to Parliamentary Counsel as quickly possible in order that Bills could be

possible introduced promptly the start of the new session.

-

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL sard hat the House of Lords would resuming sitting on 9eber. Three major Bills the Employment Bill, the Lovernment and Housing Bill, and

Loran the Self-Governing Schools gotland) Bill had still to complete their passage throhe House, and other Bills due to return to the Lords from the Commons - the Children and Companies Bills - would, en they returned, have been the subject of considerable amement in the lower House. The target for completing the Lo business was therefore a very tight one.

The Cabinet

Took note.

levising of he Proceedings

f the House of

mons

evious ference:

C(89) 20.1

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL said that the

experimental televising of proceedings in the Ho Commons would begin after the State Opening of the session. There would be a period from 17 October when th cameras in the Chamber would be functioning but nothing would be transmitted, so that the broadcasters could iro The introduction of cameras would out any difficulties.

CONFIDENTIAL

mean that Ministers would have to review their Parliamentary speaking style: in particular it would not be

1

Page 124

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 124