Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Environment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 6 July 1983.
Mr Hugh Brown
, Glasgow Provan
12:00,
6 July 1983
Does the Secretary of State agree that the Government have shown scandalous disregard for two election commitments to abolish domestic rates? Will the white paper cover Scotland, although, of course, there will have to be separate legislative proposals?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
