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Brown's 'family finances' package Brown's 'family finances' package
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that helping family finances was his "immediate priority" as he outlined his legislative programme for next year.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that helping family finances was his "immediate priority" as he outlined his legislative programme for next year.
The PM pledged more help for first-time buyers, a savings scheme for eight million low earners and more flexible working rights for parents.The PM pledged more help for first-time buyers, a savings scheme for eight million low earners and more flexible working rights for parents.
He said "building a more prosperous Britain and a fairer Britain" was the purpose of the draft Queen's Speech, He said "building a more prosperous Britain and a fairer Britain" was the purpose of the draft Queen's Speech.
But David Cameron said the measures showed Mr Brown had "run out of steam". But Tory leader David Cameron said it showed Mr Brown had "run out of steam".
Mr Brown was making his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election - and with his fortunes at a low ebb after poor local election results.Mr Brown was making his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election - and with his fortunes at a low ebb after poor local election results.
'Complete farce''Complete farce'
It also follows Chancellor Alistair Darling's £2.7bn tax cut announced on Tuesday to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped.It also follows Chancellor Alistair Darling's £2.7bn tax cut announced on Tuesday to compensate those who lost out when the 10p tax rate was scrapped.
The Conservatives called that tax move "an exercise in political survival" by the government, while the Liberal Democrats said tax policy had "descended into a complete farce".The Conservatives called that tax move "an exercise in political survival" by the government, while the Liberal Democrats said tax policy had "descended into a complete farce".
POSSIBLE MEASURES Public say on GP hoursParents' councils to help run schoolsCitizenship ceremonies for young peopleMore accountable chief constablesReform of banking regulationsHelp for first-time buyers Live: Point-by-point coverageIn full: All the planned bills KEY PARTS OF PLANS Parents' councils to help run schoolsMore accountable chief constablesReform of banking regulationsHelp for first-time buyers Live: Point-by-point coverageIn full: All the planned bills
In the Commons, Mr Brown said there would be immediate support for the housing market, with the setting up of a £200m fund to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants or make them available on a shared ownership basis.In the Commons, Mr Brown said there would be immediate support for the housing market, with the setting up of a £200m fund to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants or make them available on a shared ownership basis.
An additional £100m would be made available to shared equity schemes to help more first-time buyers to purchase newly-built homes on the open market.An additional £100m would be made available to shared equity schemes to help more first-time buyers to purchase newly-built homes on the open market.
A Banking Bill, introduced in the wake of the crisis over Northern Rock, would bolster protection for depositors. A Banking Bill, introduced in the wake of the crisis over Northern Rock, would bolster protection for depositors against a banking collapsing.
A national savings scheme would be created for eight million people on low incomes, with each pound saved matched with a contribution from government.A national savings scheme would be created for eight million people on low incomes, with each pound saved matched with a contribution from government.
An Education and Skills Bill make schools more accountable to parents through the first independent qualifications system and guarantee the highest standards.An Education and Skills Bill make schools more accountable to parents through the first independent qualifications system and guarantee the highest standards.
Labour MPs cheered as Mr Brown said the right of flexible working will be extended to parents with older children from next April, along with new rights for agency workers.
Police reformsPolice reforms
The prime minister's plans for the next parliamentary session, essentially a preview of the Queen's Speech, also includes police reform.The prime minister's plans for the next parliamentary session, essentially a preview of the Queen's Speech, also includes police reform.
Chief constables will be made accountable to a directly elected representative.Chief constables will be made accountable to a directly elected representative.
That official could then influence police priorities by, for example, requesting more resources to tackle gun crime.That official could then influence police priorities by, for example, requesting more resources to tackle gun crime.
The Conservatives say the idea is a reworded version of their plan for US-style sheriffs, put forward in their 2005 general election manifesto.The Conservatives say the idea is a reworded version of their plan for US-style sheriffs, put forward in their 2005 general election manifesto.
The list of possible initiatives was greeted with an under whelmed response: "boring," "uninspiring" and "awful" were some of the terms used The BBC's Iain Watson tests reaction to the proposals class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7399249.stm">What will be in draft Speech? Tests for immigrants to receive British citizenship would be made tougher, with newcomers expected to learn English and prove they are making an economic contribution.
An NHS constitution would be established in an NHS Reform Bill to set out what patients can expect from the health service, including entitlements to minimum standards of access, quality and safety.
Jobless people will be required to have their skills and needs assessed under a Welfare Reform Bill.
Mr Cameron said he welcomed many of the measures, as his party had proposed them in the first place.
The prime minister's speech comes after a difficult two weeks which have seen Labour's worst local election performance in 40 years, as well as criticism of Mr Brown's own behaviour in memoirs by John Prescott and Cherie Blair.The prime minister's speech comes after a difficult two weeks which have seen Labour's worst local election performance in 40 years, as well as criticism of Mr Brown's own behaviour in memoirs by John Prescott and Cherie Blair.
It is the second draft Queen's Speech. Mr Brown introduced the idea when he became prime minister last year.It is the second draft Queen's Speech. Mr Brown introduced the idea when he became prime minister last year.
Critics say it diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November.Critics say it diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November.
But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech.But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech.