CP(72) 89
COPY NO
65
4 August 1972
CABINET
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1972-73 SESSION
M e m o r a n d u m by the S e c r e t a r y of State for the H o m e D e p a r t m e n t and Lord P r e s i d e n t of the Council 1.
We approved the l e g i s l a t i v e p r o g r a m m e for next S e s s i o n
(CM(72) 24th C o n c l u s i o n s , Minute 7) on the b a s i s that a significantly
l i g h t e r p r o g r a m m e was d e s i r a b l e .
The strain of t h i s S e s s i o n , both
in the C o m m o n s and in the L o r d s , a m p l y c o n f i r m s the w i s d o m of that
view.
The p o s i t i o n h a s , h o w e v e r , w o r s e n e d in a n u m b e r of r e s p e c t s
s i n c e we c o n s i d e r e d the p r o g r a m m e in May.
F i r s t , we h a v e , unavoidably,
to m a k e p r o v i s i o n for a number of additional B i l l s ( s e e Annex).
Secondly,
on s o m e of the m a j o r B i l l s in the p r o g r a m m e we s h a l l find our own
s u p p o r t e r s at b e s t l u k e w a r m and at w o r s t divided ( p a r t i c u l a r l y on Water
R e o r g a n i s a t i o n and on L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t F i n a n c e and M i s c e l l a n e o u s
Provisions).
T h i r d l y , p r e p a r a t i o n of a number of m a j o r B i l l s h a s b e e n
held up awaiting p o l i c y d e c i s i o n s ; and in c o n s e q u e n c e drafting h a s not begun,
so that the B i l l s a r e l i k e l y to be l a t e , thus adding to the difficulty of
a c c o m m o d a t i n g t h e m (this a p p l i e s to the two B i l l s I h a v e a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d ,
to C o n s u m e r Credit and to Training and E m p l o y m e n t ) .
2.
In t h i s situation I a m p r e p a r e d to defer C r i m i n a l E v i d e n c e , on which
a draft B i l l h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d by the C r i m i n a l Law R e v i s i o n C o m m i t t e e .
The d e f e r m e n t w i l l s a t i s f y t h o s e who a r e saying that we should not rush into
this m e a s u r e without p r o p e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n and I b e l i e v e will be a c c e p t e d by
our own s u p p o r t e r s providing we c a r r y conviction that we intend to p a s s a
B i l l in the P a r l i a m e n t .
3,
The S e c r e t a r y of State for T r a d e and Industry h a s a g r e e d that the
B i l l on C o n s u m e r Credit should be d e f e r r e d , but on the b a s i s that i t s
p r e p a r a t i o n would p r o c e e d , a s drafting r e s o u r c e s p e r m i t , in o r d e r that
we would be r e a d y to introduce it without fail next S e s s i o n or in t h i s S e s s i o n
if, u n e x p e c t e d l y , an opportunity a r o s e for i t . He a t t a c h e s i m p o r t a n c e ,
h o w e v e r , to the addition to the p r o g r a m m e of a B i l l on I n s u r a n c e .
I
r e c o m m e n d that we a g r e e to t h i s , provided that p o l i c y q u e s t i o n s and
drafting i n s t r u c t i o n s can be s e t t l e d u r g e n t l y and that.the B i l l w i l l be
r e a d y for introduction not l a t e r than i m m e d i a t e l y after the C h r i s t m a s
Recess,
4,
I h a v e d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t
t h e d e f e r m e n t of W a t e r R e o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t F i n a n c e a n d
Miscellaneous Provisions.
Drafting h a s not yet begun on t h e s e B i l l s ; t h e y
w i l l be l a t e , difficult, and l i a b l e to be c o n t r o v e r s i a l a m o n g o u r own
s u p p o r t e r s w h o h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n s e v e r e l y t e s t e d b y t h e p r e s s u r e of
l o c a l l o y a l t i e s a r o u s e d b y t h e r e f o r m of l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t .
While it
would be d e s i r a b l e for both B i l l s to be p a s s e d next S e s s i o n , in o r d e r
t h a t t h e y c o u l d t a k e e f f e c t at t h e t i m e of t h e r e o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e l o c a l
g o v e r n m e n t i n A p r i l 1974, w e could o n l y a c c o m m o d a t e t h e m at the e x p e n s e
of o t h e r m e a s u r e s .
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e E n v i r o n m e n t f e e l s v e r y
s t r o n g l y that the B i l l on Water R e o r g a n i s a t i o n should not be d e f e r r e d
although he i s p r e p a r e d to exclude c e r t a i n pollution p r o v i s i o n s f r o m it.
He i s p r e p a r e d to s h o r t e n L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t F i n a n c e and M i s c e l l a n e o u s
P r o v i s i o n s s o m e w h a t ; but h e w o u l d t h e n p r o p o s e a s e p a r a t e B i l l ( p e r h a p s
i n 1 9 7 3 - 7 4 ) to p r o v i d e for a l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t o m b u d s m a n .
He is willing
to d e f e r the B i l l on R o a d T r a f f i c (which h a s a l s o b e e n i n t e n d e d to i n c l u d e
the " K e e p e r L i a b i l i t y " p r o p o s a l s with which I a m c o n c e r n e d a s H o m e
Secretary),
In t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I f e e l I m u s t r e c o m m e n d that we
should p r o c e e d with Water R e o r g a n i s a t i o n next S e s s i o n provided a g r e e m e n t
c a n b e r e a c h e d o n t h e t r e a t m e n t of l a n d d r a i n a g e b u t d e f e r L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t
F i n a n c e and M i s c e l l a n e o u s P r o v i s i o n s and R o a d T r a f f i c / K e e p e r L i a b i l i t y
until 1973-74.
We could a l s o k e e p open the p o s s i b i l i t y of finding a p l a c e
for a short B i l l on a l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t o m b u d s m a n in the 1972-73 S e s s i o n ;
a n d w o u l d , a s d r a f t i n g r e s o u r c e s p e r m i t , p r o c e e d w i t h t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of
the B i l l on R o a d T r a f f i c / K e e p e r L i a b i l i t y on the s a m e b a s i s a s the B i l l on
Consumer Credit.
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e h a s a s k e d f o r B i l l s o n N a t u r e
C o n s e r v a n c y a n d N i g h t A s s e m b l i e s to b e a d d e d t o t h e p r o g r a m m e but t h e s e
c o u l d o n l y b e i n c l u d e d a t t h e e x p e n s e of o t h e r m e a s u r e s ,
I have agreed
w i t h t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e t h a t t h e B i l l o n U r b a n M o t o r w a y s / L a n d
Compensation should be e n l a r g e d ,
CONCLUSIONS
5,
To s u m up, m y c o n c l u s i o n s a r e ­
a.
We should m a k e p r o v i s i o n n e x t S e s s i o n for the additional
B i l l s s e t out in the A n a e x ,
b.
"We s h o u l d d e f e r u n t i l 1 9 7 3 - 7 4 C r i m i n a l E v i d e n c e , C o n s u m e r
C r e d i t , L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t F i n a n c e and M i s c e l l a n e o u s P r o v i s i o n s
and Road T r a f f i c / K e e p e r Liability.
I i n v i t e t h e a g r e e m e n t of t h e C a b i n e t t o t h e s e c o n c l u s i o n s .
R C
Home
Office
3 A u g u s t 1972
ANNEX Legislative P r o g r a m m e 1972-73
A.
ADDITIONS
Bill Brief details
MAIN P R O G R A M M E
D e p a r t m e n t of t h e E n v i r o n m e n t
British Railways Finances P r o v i s i o n for financing British
Railways deficit.
U n o c c u p i e d Office
P o w e r s to s e c u r e that p r o p e r t i e s
such as Centre Point are let.
Properties H o m e Office
Fire
Precautions To authorise loans for fire
p r e c a u t i o n s a l t e r a t i o n s in s m a l l
h o t e l s and b o a r d i n g h o u s e s .
Spot-the-Ball To legalise Spot-the-Ball competitLons p r o m o t e d by newspapers.
D e p a r t m e n t of T r a d e and I n d u s t r y
S a l e of G o o d s D e f e r r e d from 1971-72.
To
e x t e n d p r o t e c t i o n of c u s t o m e r s
i n s a l e of g o o d s .
Insurance R e f o r m of i n s u r a n c e f i n a n c i a l standards; strengthening supervisory powers; compensation for certain claimants; e t c BILLS FOR SCOTTISH GRAND COMMITTEE
L o r d H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r ( C h u r c h of Scotland) T o i n c r e a s e the allowance
payable.
SECOND READING COMMITTEE BILLS
D e p a r t m e n t of H e a l t h a n d S o c i a l S e c u r i t y
General Medical Council
D e f e r r e d from 1971-72.
R e v i s i o n of the c o m p o s i t i o n of
the Council
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS
Home
Office
Cinematograph Acts
(Amendment) L i c e n s i n g of p r i v a t e c i n e m a
clubs; narrowing exemptions
from obscene publications law
M e a s u r e s on
Industrial Policy
Northern Ireland
C o m p e n s a t i o n to N a t i o n a l i s e d I n d u s t r i e s
for P r i c e R e s t r a i n t