CAB128-94_A1b — Page 138

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NTARY

Legis tive Programe 1989-90

FIDENT

Previous

Reference:

CC(89) 29.1

1. THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL said that he had already reported to Cabinet the severe pressure on the legislative programme for the following Parliamentary session. It was essential to begin the fourth session of the present Parliament as close to the conventional time as possible. A number of fresh priority candidates for places in the programme had emerged since Cabinet had last discussed it, and some of the Bills in the provisional programme had grown as a result of

olicy decisions. Cabinet had previously agreed that any additions to the programme should be met by offsetting savings. The Queen's Speeches and Future Legislation Committee (QL) had

sequently examined the provisional programme in order to see Whether any savings could be found. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry had offered to postpone legislation on Export Credit and Investment Guarantees and on Computer Misuse to the 1990-91 session: QL had decided that although it would not be possible proceed with a Government Bill on Computer Misuse next session the subject could be offered to a Private Member.

oproceed with These savings ould allow the addition to the programme of a very short ill extending to licensed tenants the protections of the Landlord Tenant Act 1954.

would

Bills

More substantial wings were, however, required if the acute pressures on the programme were to be relieved. QL had therefore reluctant concluded that the Law Reform ncluded that the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Bill and the Highways and Transport (Private Finance Bill should also be removed from the programme. While the pedreary of State for Scotland would prefer to have two Scott/Bills in the programme, if forced to give one of them priority/eould favour retaining the Scottish Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Bill. Postponement of the Scottish Law Reform was not judged likely to make passage of the Courts and Legal Services Bill, which would reform the English legal profession, more difficult. The Highways and Transport (Private Finance) Bill contained two elements - reform of the Public lities Streetworks Act 1950

Utilities and provisions to give effect to the proposals for private financing of roads in the Green Paper "New Roads by New Means" (Command 698) - of which both were desirable but each was susbstantial and neither seemed essential net session.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND said that while he appreciated the pressures facing the business managers, the proposal to drop one of the two Scottish Bill provisional programme would have major constitutional as well as political implications. The Scottish Office's functions embraced those of a number of Whitehall Departments

the

and

the existence of a separate Scottish legal system meant that a

substantial programme of Scottish legislation was required each session. There had for many years been three or more Scottish Bills in the programme. This year he had accepted that should only be two Bills but any further reduction in the

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