Mr Newton’s Statement on Maastricht – 27 July 1993

Below is the text of Mr Newton’s Commons Statement on Maastricht, made on 27th July 1993. Tony Newton was the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council.

TONY NEWTON:

Following the decisive conclusion last Friday of the Parliamentary processes on Maastricht, Parliament goes into its recess this week after a highly productive session, with well over 30 Acts put onto the statute book so far.

Despite a total of 40 days of debate in the two Houses on the European Communities (Amendment) Act, the Government has also successfully moved ahead with the programme put before Parliament fifteen months ago.

Of the 15 Bills promised in the Queen’s Speech, 12 are expected to have been passed by this evening – achieving, for example, further improvements to trade union law; important reforms of leasehold, the rights of council tenants and the arrangements for urban regeneration; a firm basis for the continued success of personal pensions; paving the way for coal privatisation; and underpinning our educational reforms. Other significant Bills, including the Railways Bill and the National Lottery Bill, are well on the way to completion before the new session begins later this year.

In addition, over 20 other Government Bills have been passed, for example, to restrain increases in business rates; to establish a new basis for the Independent Living Fund which helps very severely disabled people; to assist with insurance costs arising from acts of terrorism; and to abolish car tax.

With the Maastricht debates behind us, and the economy now moving ahead, there could be no clearer evidence that, under the Prime Minister’s firm and determined leadership, the Government is achieving its objective.