Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 July 1983.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
12:00,
27 July 1983
I have no knowledge whether the white paper is ready. I was in the Chair and I heard the Secretary of State say that a White Paper would be published this month and I imagine that that is the fact. As to the Scottish statement, there are many hon. Members in the House who would wish to hear it.
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
