Queen’s Speech reveals Blair’s third term programme
The Queen today unveiled the Government’s plans for a raft of new legislation to build on its programme of reform and “accelerate the modernisation” of public services.
Controversial measures to introduce ID cards and “tighten” the immigration and asylum system, along with plans to tackle incitement to religious hatred, featured among 45 bills and five draft bills announced in the Queen’s Speech.
A new Immigration and Asylum Bill would introduce the fingerprinting of visa applicants, allow data-sharing by border agencies and support the introduction of a points system.
An Incitement Bill would give Christians, Muslims and others the same protections under religious hatred laws as Jews and Sikhs, and would tackle religious extremists who stir up hatred against members of minority faiths.
Improving quality and choice in education remains the Government’s top priority, the Queen said in the House of Lords at the traditional state opening of Parliament.
The Education Bill would aim to give parents a greater role in their child’s education, introduce new plans for Ofsted to tackle school failure and give greater independence to successful schools.
A bill will also be introduced to take forward the recommendations of the Bichard report, which examined the failings that led to the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham. This includes the introduction of a vetting scheme for adults working with children.
Measures will also be brought forward to safeguard the welfare of children in the event of parental separation and improve the process of inter-country adoption.
The police will be given new powers to tackle knives, guns and alcohol-related violence. The Government will also introduce measures to tackle re-offending by improving management of offenders, and reform the criminal defence service to make better use of legal aid resources.
On healthcare, the Government pledged to increase diversity in healthcare provision and legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places was also announced.
The controversial mental health bill will provide “a new framework for the provision of compulsory treatment of those with mental disorders”, and a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be established.
On welfare reform, the Government will bring forward a bill to establish benefits that facilitate a return to employment, extend maternity benefits, and on pensions will begin long-term reform to provide sustainable income for those in retirement.
Plans to create an offence of corporate manslaughter were also announced, despite media speculation that they had been shelved.
Reforms to electoral law, the National Assembly for Wales, the House of Lords and a bill to prepare a referendum on the EU Constitution were also unveiled.
There will be updates to consumer credit law and company law, and home reversion plans will be brought within the scope of the Financial Services Authority.
Legislation to better manage and protect the natural environment and support rural communities, and to modernise the management of common land will be introduced.
Bills to tackle road safety, reduce regulations, prepare the delivery of the Olympics and provide a single system of service law for the Armed Forces also featured.
