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| Queen to outline Brown's agenda | Queen to outline Brown's agenda |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Crime and finance initiatives are set to feature prominently in the Queen's Speech later as the government outlines planned legislation for the next year. | Crime and finance initiatives are set to feature prominently in the Queen's Speech later as the government outlines planned legislation for the next year. |
| While 18 bills were listed in a preview in May, it is expected they will be scaled back to 14, to focus on dealing with the economic crisis. | While 18 bills were listed in a preview in May, it is expected they will be scaled back to 14, to focus on dealing with the economic crisis. |
| But plans for welfare and banking reform and a citizenship bill are due to be confirmed as Parliament opens. | But plans for welfare and banking reform and a citizenship bill are due to be confirmed as Parliament opens. |
| Afterwards, the Speaker will give a statement on MP Damian Green's arrest. | Afterwards, the Speaker will give a statement on MP Damian Green's arrest. |
| The Conservative immigration spokesman was arrested at his home last Thursday, had his parliamentary office searched and was questioned for nine hours about leaked information from the Home Office. | The Conservative immigration spokesman was arrested at his home last Thursday, had his parliamentary office searched and was questioned for nine hours about leaked information from the Home Office. |
| As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not Gordon Brown Will Queen deliver surprises? | As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not Gordon Brown Will Queen deliver surprises? |
| Many MPs say Speaker Michael Martin should not have allowed the police to enter Parliament. | Many MPs say Speaker Michael Martin should not have allowed the police to enter Parliament. |
| He is set to make a statement at 1430 GMT, following the Queen's Speech, after which he is likely to face requests from senior opposition MPs for an immediate debate on the issue. | He is set to make a statement at 1430 GMT, following the Queen's Speech, after which he is likely to face requests from senior opposition MPs for an immediate debate on the issue. |
| Before that, the State Opening of Parliament will take place amid pomp and pageantry, with the Queen outlining the government's proposed legislation for the year ahead in the House of Lords. | Before that, the State Opening of Parliament will take place amid pomp and pageantry, with the Queen outlining the government's proposed legislation for the year ahead in the House of Lords. |
| Business friendly | Business friendly |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has previewed the annual Queen's Speech with a draft legislative statement in May for the past two years. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has previewed the annual Queen's Speech with a draft legislative statement in May for the past two years. |
| But this year there are thought to be some changes, because of the rapid downturn in the economy. | But this year there are thought to be some changes, because of the rapid downturn in the economy. |
| Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, has gone through the bills to consider their impact from a business perspective. | Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, has gone through the bills to consider their impact from a business perspective. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're at a critical juncture in our economic fortunes and none of us, whether it be the government or business, can afford to under-perform. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're at a critical juncture in our economic fortunes and none of us, whether it be the government or business, can afford to under-perform. |
| "What we need to do is to make sure that we are aligning government policies, for example on technological development, on regulation, on skills and export promotion, in order to give the best possible backing to business and to entrepreneurs." | "What we need to do is to make sure that we are aligning government policies, for example on technological development, on regulation, on skills and export promotion, in order to give the best possible backing to business and to entrepreneurs." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY A useful change would be for the government to allow the taxpayer to say how their money is spent Steve Grant, Ipswich Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY A useful change would be for the government to allow the taxpayer to say how their money is spent Steve Grant, Ipswich Send us your comments |
| The BBC's Vicki Young said it was understood plans to ban happy hours had been rowed back on, and other measures may be delayed to make the speech more business friendly. | The BBC's Vicki Young said it was understood plans to ban happy hours had been rowed back on, and other measures may be delayed to make the speech more business friendly. |
| Plans to stop shops displaying cigarettes, may be watered down because of economic concerns, although some new restrictions are still expected. | Plans to stop shops displaying cigarettes, may be watered down because of economic concerns, although some new restrictions are still expected. |
| Meanwhile, the Department for Business says all parents with children aged 16 and under will get the right to request flexible working from April 2009, despite concerns about the impact on business. It will not be in the Queen's Speech as it does not require legislation. | Meanwhile, the Department for Business says all parents with children aged 16 and under will get the right to request flexible working from April 2009, despite concerns about the impact on business. It will not be in the Queen's Speech as it does not require legislation. |
| Lord Mandelson said he had considered delaying it but believed it would give employers and staff "valuable flexibility" and could keep businesses profitable and people in work. | Lord Mandelson said he had considered delaying it but believed it would give employers and staff "valuable flexibility" and could keep businesses profitable and people in work. |
| Reports suggest a new statutory code of conduct on bank lending will require lenders to give customers specific notice if they plan to withdraw or alter credit but the government has played down reports that banks could face heavy fines if they do not stick to the code. | Reports suggest a new statutory code of conduct on bank lending will require lenders to give customers specific notice if they plan to withdraw or alter credit but the government has played down reports that banks could face heavy fines if they do not stick to the code. |
| Giant database | Giant database |
| There have been suggestions the controversial communications data bill - which included plans for a database of all phone and internet records and faced fierce opposition - has been shelved. | There have been suggestions the controversial communications data bill - which included plans for a database of all phone and internet records and faced fierce opposition - has been shelved. |
| And among the more eye-catching measures predicted are lie detector tests for people claiming benefits - already used by 25 councils - to try to reduce fraud. | And among the more eye-catching measures predicted are lie detector tests for people claiming benefits - already used by 25 councils - to try to reduce fraud. |
| Bills that are expected to be in the Queen's Speech include: | Bills that are expected to be in the Queen's Speech include: |
| • The Welfare Reform Bill: includes plans to make the long-term unemployed in England, Scotland and Wales start training courses or face benefit cuts and to assess skills when people first claim. Incapacity benefit claimants would have to be medically assessed. | • The Welfare Reform Bill: includes plans to make the long-term unemployed in England, Scotland and Wales start training courses or face benefit cuts and to assess skills when people first claim. Incapacity benefit claimants would have to be medically assessed. |
| • The Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill: covering the whole UK, it would streamline immigration law and implement the government's plans for "earned citizenship" - newcomers will be expected to learn English. | • The Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill: covering the whole UK, it would streamline immigration law and implement the government's plans for "earned citizenship" - newcomers will be expected to learn English. |
| • The Banking Reform Bill: includes measures to allow the Bank of England, Treasury and FSA to intervene earlier to prevent another bank crisis. It was introduced early and has already started its passage through Parliament but some reports suggest it will include extended powers to take other financial businesses into public ownership. | • The Banking Reform Bill: includes measures to allow the Bank of England, Treasury and FSA to intervene earlier to prevent another bank crisis. It was introduced early and has already started its passage through Parliament but some reports suggest it will include extended powers to take other financial businesses into public ownership. |
| • Police and Crime Reduction Bill: implements the Flanagan review recommendations to reduce police bureaucracy and includes powers to deal with binge drinking - including a possible ban on drinks promotions. | • Police and Crime Reduction Bill: implements the Flanagan review recommendations to reduce police bureaucracy and includes powers to deal with binge drinking - including a possible ban on drinks promotions. |
| • The Equality Bill: for England, Wales and Scotland which aims to streamline laws on sex, race and religious discrimination, improve enforcement and allow political parties to use all-women shortlists until 2030. | • The Equality Bill: for England, Wales and Scotland which aims to streamline laws on sex, race and religious discrimination, improve enforcement and allow political parties to use all-women shortlists until 2030. |
| • National Health Service Reform Bill: which takes forward Lord Darzi's proposals for reforming the NHS in England. It would establish an NHS Constitution outlining the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients. | • National Health Service Reform Bill: which takes forward Lord Darzi's proposals for reforming the NHS in England. It would establish an NHS Constitution outlining the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients. |
| • Child Poverty Bill: Gordon Brown said at the Labour conference he would introduce legislation "to enshrine in law Labour's pledge to end child poverty". | • Child Poverty Bill: Gordon Brown said at the Labour conference he would introduce legislation "to enshrine in law Labour's pledge to end child poverty". |
| • Constitutional Renewal Bill: would formalise the independence of the civil service, redefine the role of the attorney general and loosen restrictions on protesting around Parliament. | • Constitutional Renewal Bill: would formalise the independence of the civil service, redefine the role of the attorney general and loosen restrictions on protesting around Parliament. |
| On Tuesday, ministers hinted that "fair rules" would be at the heart of the Queen's Speech and the prime minister said there could not be "one rule for some and another rule for others". | On Tuesday, ministers hinted that "fair rules" would be at the heart of the Queen's Speech and the prime minister said there could not be "one rule for some and another rule for others". |
| Behind the scenes of the Queen's Speech | |
| "As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not." | "As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not." |
| But the Conservatives said Labour had had a decade in power to make Britain fairer. | But the Conservatives said Labour had had a decade in power to make Britain fairer. |
| Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said he hoped the banking bill offered a "sensible path" to help the flow of lending and small businesses. | Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said he hoped the banking bill offered a "sensible path" to help the flow of lending and small businesses. |
| He told the BBC: "But I think we have to be very careful and read the small print. The government has a track record in using occasions like today to grab headlines, to bring forward pieces of legislation to catch the attention of the nation but when you actually look at the small print it really doesn't do what it said on the tin at all." | He told the BBC: "But I think we have to be very careful and read the small print. The government has a track record in using occasions like today to grab headlines, to bring forward pieces of legislation to catch the attention of the nation but when you actually look at the small print it really doesn't do what it said on the tin at all." |
| "We've got to be careful that these are real measures that are actually going to make a difference and that they are not just an exercise in public relations." | "We've got to be careful that these are real measures that are actually going to make a difference and that they are not just an exercise in public relations." |
| Does this expected legislation affect your line of work or your life in any way? In what way will the proposed bills make a difference to you? Send us your story using the form below: | Does this expected legislation affect your line of work or your life in any way? In what way will the proposed bills make a difference to you? Send us your story using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |