This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7399340.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Brown's 'family finances' package Brown's 'family finances' package
(40 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. The aim was to build a "more prosperous and fairer Britain", he said.
But Tory leader David Cameron said it showed Mr Brown had "run out of steam". David Cameron said Mr Brown had "run out of steam". Nick Clegg said he had "scraped the barrel to save himself".
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".
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 KEY PARTS OF PLANS £200m to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants£100m for shared equity schemes to help first-time buyers purchase new-build homesParents' councils to help run schoolsMore accountable chief constablesProtection for depositors in the event of future bank collapsesHelp for first-time buyersExtension of flexible working to parents with older childrenJobless skills and training assessmentsTests for immigrantsSeas and shores protection, plus review into lat year's floods implementedLords reform, party funding reform and consultation on Bill of Rights 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 against a banking collapsing. A Banking Bill, introduced in the wake of the crisis over Northern Rock, would bolster protection for depositors against future bank collapses.
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. Schools will be made 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.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.
I've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you? Nick CleggLib Dem leader
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.
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. There will also be legislation to speed up the seizure of criminal assets in a Policing and Crime Reduction Bill.
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. Tests for immigrants to receive British citizenship will be made tougher, with newcomers expected to learn English and prove they are making an economic contribution.
An NHS constitution will be established to set out what patients can expect from the health service, including entitlements to minimum standards of access, quality and safety.
'Desperate week'
Jobless people will be required to have their skills and needs assessed under a Welfare Reform Bill.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.Mr Cameron said he welcomed many of the measures, as his party had proposed them in the first place.
"This Queen's Speech has nothing to do with the long-term needs of the country and everything to do with your short term political survival," he told Mr Brown.
"We need a government that tackles the underlying causes of poverty, that fights family breakdown, that breaks open the monopoly of state education - we need a government that can work with the voluntary sector.
"You can't do that and we can."
Mr Clegg said Mr Brown had faced "a desperate week", with early announcements on the 10p tax rate and "a rag bag of proposals" in the draft Queen's speech.
Memoirs
"I've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you?"
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.