Queen’s Speech – what it contains
With the Queen’s Speech now over, politics.co.uk takes a look at the Bills and measures announced.
37 Bills in total were announced, ranging from controversial measures to introduce identity cards to the go-ahead for the London crossrail project.
NEW BILLS
The following new Bills have been included in the Queen’s Speech.
Animal Welfare Bill – this would increase the penalties available for animal abuse offenders and seek to consolidate English and Welsh law on the issues.
Charities Bill – this would reform the Charity Commission and update the definition of charitable cause to emphasise the criteria of public benefit.
Child Benefit Bill – this will extend financial support for 16 to 19 year olds in training and further education.
Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – this would seek to address concerns on local environmental quality and anti-social behaviour. Councils would be given powers to tackle nuisance alley-ways, litter, fly-posting, graffiti, abandoned and nuisance vehicles and night-time noise and light pollution. Measures would include on-the-spot fines.
Commons Bill – this would provide new protection for land identified as part of the rural cultural identity of England and Wales.
Consumer Credit Bill – this would end the practice of burying details of high interest rates and unfair charges in the small print of loan agreements.
Criminal Defence Services Bill – this would cut the cost of criminal legal aid to ensure “value for money”.
Crossrail Bill – this would create the necessary powers for the London Crossrail scheme to be built.
Disability Discrimination Bill – this will introduce a new duty on public bodies to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.
Drugs Bill – this would strengthen police powers to deal with offenders and focus on tackling anti-social behaviour in communities caused by dealing and abuse.
Education Bill – this will streamline the system of schools inspection and guarantee schools three-year budgets.
European Union Bill – this would allow the Government to hold a national referendum on whether to adopt the new EU constitution.
Equality Bill – this would create the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, a single body to promote and protect equality in the UK. It will cover discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, age, sexuality and religion.
HM Revenue and Customs Bill – this would integrate the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
ID Cards Bill – this would introduce compulsory identity cards in the UK. A draft bill has already been considered by the Home Affairs Committee.
International Organisations Bill – this would provide for outstanding international commitments to be fulfilled.
Inquiries Bill – this would overhaul legislation relating to matters of public concern.
Judicial Pensions Bill – this would safeguard the current value of judges’ pensions.
Management of Offenders Bill – this would merge the prison and probation services to create the National Offender Management Service. It would also aim to support effective community punishments.
National Lottery Bill – this would create a new lottery distributor and merge two of the three grant-making bodies, the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund. It seeks to give the public more of a say in how lottery money is spent.
Railways Bill – this would abolish the Strategic Rail Authority and transfer its functions to the Secretary of State for Transport. It would also devolve control of the railways to Scotland, Wales, London, passenger transport executives and Network rail. Responsibility for railway safety would be transferred to the Office of Rail Regulation.
Road Safety Bill – this would give the police new powers to tackle drink driving and uninsured drivers, including increased penalties. It would also ensure that foreign drivers committing crimes in the UK do not escape punishment.
Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill – this would set up a British version of the FBI dedicated to fighting serious organised crime. The Serious Organised Crime Agency would take over from the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service and parts of HM Customs and Immigration Service. Measures to deal with harassment by animal rights activists will also be included in this Bill.
Wales Ombudsman Bill – this would allow one person to hold the posts of Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales, Health Services Commissioner for Wales and Welsh Administration Ombudsman
Transport (Wales) Bill – this would give the Welsh Assembly greater powers over transport, including securing public transport services and giving financial assistance to air services.
DRAFT BILLS
The following draft Bills were announced:
Draft Child Contact and Inter-country Adoption Bill – this would provide safeguards for child welfare in the event of parental separation and inter-country adoption proceedings.
Draft Company Law Reform Bill – this would seek to consolidate the legislation on corporate governance. In particular, directors’ responsibilities will be clarified and changes made to financial and narrative reporting to make any future updates more straight forward.
Draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill – promised by the Prime Minister in his speech to the Labour conference, this bill would allow company bosses to be prosecuted for negligence leading to manslaughter.
Draft Counter-terrorism Bill – this would reform anti-terrorism legislation to allow for certain cases to be heard without juries and for taped telephone calls to be admissible in court.
Draft Courts and Tribunals Bill – this would reform the current tribunal system and seek to support those with legitimate civil claims.
Draft Mental Health Bill
Draft Modernising Rural Delivery Bill – this would create a new agency for rural areas, assuming responsibilities from English Nature and parts of the Countryside Agency and Rural Development Service.
Draft Youth Justice Bill – this would seek to improve the operation and effectiveness of the youth justice system. It also promises a better juvenile sentencing system, with a sharper focus on preventing reoffending.
EXISTING BILLS
The following existing bills are to be carried over into the next session of Parliament:
Constitutional Reform Bill – this existing bill, which would abolish the office of the Lord Chancellor, create a Supreme Court and create the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Gambling Bill – the Draft Gambling Bill was subjected to the scrutiny of Parliament during the previous session and will be carried over into the next session. It will modernise and update the regulations on gambling.
Mental Capacity Bill – this would be carried over the current session of Parliament. It would provide a framework for people dealing with decisions relating to people who might lack mental capacity through injury or illness.
School Transport Bill – this will be carried over into the next session of Parliament. It includes measures to reduce congestion caused by the school run.
