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Queen to outline Brown's agenda Government plans focus on economy
(about 16 hours later)
Crime and finance initiatives are set to feature prominently in the Queen's Speech as the government outlines planned legislation for the next year. Gordon Brown has said new government measures will offer "real help" to homeowners, families and businesses as he focuses squarely on the economy.
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. He told MPs planned new laws in the Queen's Speech would help the UK "in the downturn and the upturn" to follow.
But plans for welfare and banking reform and a citizenship bill are due to be confirmed as Parliament opens. In a slimmed down programme, ministers will attempt to prevent another banking crisis and protect depositors.
Afterwards, the Speaker will give a statement on MP Damian Green's arrest. But David Cameron criticised the plans, calling it "last year's Queen's Speech from yesterday's prime minister."
The Conservative immigration spokesman was arrested at his home last Thursday, had his parliamentary office searched and was questioned about leaked information from the Home Office. 'Not honest'
As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7758123.stm">Will Queen deliver surprises? The Tory leader said the programme of measures - which include forcing long-term jobless to do more to find work and protecting homeowners under threat of losing their homes - was driven by short-term political calculations not the need for long-term change.
Many MPs say Speaker Michael Martin should not have allowed the police to enter Parliament. The prime minister had failed to "be honest about the state of the country" and its economic position, he added.
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. The prime minister is wrong in a recession and he is wrong for a recovery David Cameron Conservative leader class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7762405.stm">At-a-glance: Bill by bill class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7762560.stm">Analysis: Queen's Speech
Business friendly "The truth is that he is borrowing so much because he has spent so much," he said.
Meanwhile the Queen is on her way to the Palace of Westminster for the State Opening of Parliament. There was no commitment to public service reform nor any "recognition of how the world has changed" in the past year in terms of the problems facing business and families.
It takes place amid pomp and pageantry, with the Queen outlining the government's proposed legislation for the year ahead in the House of Lords. "The prime minister is wrong for a recession and he is wrong for a recovery."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has previewed the annual Queen's Speech with a draft legislative statement in May for the past two years. But Mr Brown accused the opposition of failing to support measures to boost the economy and financial system and ignoring the reality that the economic downturn is a global phenomenon which requires global co-operation and solutions.
But this year there are thought to be some changes, because of the rapid downturn in the economy. The Tories had shown they were "uncaring about the difficulties people face", he argued.
Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, has gone through the bills to consider their impact from a business perspective. "In an era of yes, we can, only the opposition are saying no we won't."
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. 'Meagre'
"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." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the package of measures was "meagre" from a "fag-end government running out of ideas".
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5739&edition=1&ttl=20081203082408">Send us your comments Rarely has so much been promised and so little delivered Nick Clegg Lib Dem leader
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 measures were "no use and no help" to people facing "unprecedented" economic worries, doing nothing to cut household fuel bills or get banks to lend more freely.
Plans to stop shops displaying cigarettes, may be watered down because of economic concerns, although some new restrictions are still expected. "People have a right to expect something big from the government," he said.
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. "Rarely has so much been promised and so little delivered."
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. Earlier in a speech to MPs and peers, amid the traditional pomp and ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen said: "My government's overriding priority is to ensure the stability of the British economy during the global economic downturn.
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. "My government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times."
Women-only shortlists Bills in the Queen's Speech include:
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. • Welfare Reform Bill: 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.
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. • Citizenship, Immigration and Borders Bill: Brings together customs and immigration and introduces a new path to citizenship which rewards good behaviour but holds the process up "if migrants don't make an effort to integrate or commit even minor crimes".
Bills that are expected to be in the Queen's Speech include: • Banking Bill: Gives Bank of England statutory duty to ensure financial stability and allows the Treasury and FSA to intervene earlier to prevent another bank crisis. Was introduced early and has already started its passage through Parliament.
• 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. • Policing and Crime Bill: Increases accountability of police through directly elected representatives on police authorities. Tightens control of lap dancing clubs and cracks down on cheap alcohol sales.
• 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. • Equality Bill: for England, Wales and Scotland - Aims to streamline laws on sex, race and religious discrimination, improve enforcement and allow political parties to use all-women shortlists until 2030.
• 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. • Health Bill: Establishes an NHS Constitution outlining the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients.
• 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. • Child Poverty Bill: Will "enshrine in law the government's commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020".
• 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. • Children, Skills and Learning Bill: New legislation to fulfil the government's pledge to eliminate weak schools by 2011.
• 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. There were 18 bills in the draft Queen's Speech, but this has been stripped down to 12, plus two carried over from the previous Parliamentary session, making it the shortest Queen's Speech since Labour came to power in 1997.
• 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". Binge drinking
• 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. Plans to ban shops from displaying cigarettes in shops have been put on hold for further consultation amid fears they would hit small retailers.
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". But the Department of Health said new restrictions on the sale of tobacco aimed at protecting children, particularly those from a poor background, would be announced shortly.
Behind the scenes of the Queen's Speech The PM is aware that this Queen's Speech risks being overshadowed not just by Speaker Martin's statement but by virtually anything else Nick RobinsonBBC political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/12/nostalgic_remin.html">Read Nick's blog in full
"As the government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not." Pubs and bars are also likely to face a mandatory code of conduct banning "£10 all you can drink" deals and similar promotions and fines for drinking in public places where it is banned will go up from £500 to £2,500.
But the Conservatives said Labour had had a decade in power to make Britain fairer. Among the bills not included is the Communications Data Bill, thought to include proposals for a giant database of all phone and internet traffic, which has been put out for further consultation.
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. Gordon Brown's much-vaunted Constitutional Renewal Bill - which would give MPs the final say over war and remove a ban on protests outside Parliament - has also been put on hold, to return when Parliamentary time allows.
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." Plans to extend the right to request flexible working to many more parents are included despite concerns about the impact on businesses during a likely recession.
"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." Families on lower incomes are to be encouraged to save more through financial incentives.
/> 		class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Glad to hear the government is going to try to tackle binge drinking Lucy Clarke class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5739&edition=1&ttl=20081203082408">Send us your comments
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: And a voluntary code of conduct requiring banks to give customers notice if they plan to withdraw or alter credit facilities will be made mandatory, the government said, but this is not part of the Banking Bill.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. Among the more eye-catching measures thought to be included in proposed welfare reforms are lie detector tests for people claiming benefits - already used by 25 councils - to try to reduce fraud.
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But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the proposals looked like a "leftover from pre-recessionary times".
And the SNP said the Queen's Speech showed the "UK government has its head in the sand over the current economic reality".
And Plaid Cymru said there was need for much tougher controls on banks and energy companies to help hard-pressed families and businesses.
"I would like to see the banks coming under some form of regulation, to ensure that they do start lending to each other, but also, crucially, they start lending responsibly to individuals," said Elfin Llwyd, the party's leader at Westminster.