Queen’s Speech: What it’s likely to contain
The Queen’s Speech takes place later this morning. politics.co.uk takes a look at what it is likely to contain.
NEW BILLS
The following new bills are expected to be included in the Queen’s Speech:
Animal Welfare Bill – the draft bill received pre-legislative scrutiny from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in September and is expected to be brought forward as a full bill.
Charities Bill – the Draft Charities Bill received pre-legislative scrutiny during the last session and a full bill could now follow.
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.
Correctional Services Bill – this would include measures on community sentences and provide for the Prison Service and National Probation Service.
Commission for Equality and Human Rights Bill – this would create an equality and human rights commission covering race, gender, disability, age, sexuality and religion.
Criminal Defence Services Bill – this would cut the cost of criminal legal aid
Crossrail Bill – this would create the necessary powers for the 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 provide police with new power to tackle drugs related crime.
Education Bill – this would introduce three-year budgets for schools and allow Ofsted to perform “snap” inspections
European Communities (Amendment) Bill – this would ratify the EU constitutional treaty.
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 is likely to be mentioned again in the Queen’s Speech.
ID Cards Bill – this would introduce identity cards in the UK. A draft bill has already been considered by the Home Affairs Committee.
Judicial Pensions Bill – this would exempt judges from tighter controls on pensions
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.
Organised Crime Agency Bill – this would set up a British version of the FBI.
Police Powers Bill – this would allow police forces to increase the money they raise from patrolling special events such as concerts and football matches. It would also cut bureaucracy.
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 contain measures to allow evidential breath testing, retesting for repeat offenders, and would increase penalties for dangerous driving, using mobile phones and using vehicles in a dangerous condition.
Safer Neighbourhoods Bill – this would deal with anti-social behaviour such as minor vandalism, graffiti and dropping chewing gum. It would allow for an expansion of electronic tagging of young offenders and ASBOs would be tightened up. It may also include provisions for tackling religious hatred. Councils are also likely to be allowed to charge more for refuse collection if not sorted into recyclable groups under 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 follow on from the Draft Transport (Wales) Bill.
DRAFT BILLS
The following draft bills are expected to be included:
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 cases to be heard without juries and for taped telephone calls to be admissible in court.
EXISTING BILLS
The following existing bills are expected 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, is likely to be carried over into the next session.
Mental Capacity Bill – this would be carried over the current session of Parliament
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.
A Finance Bill will also be brought forward to implement the Chancellor’s Budget.
