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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/mar/20/health-bill-andy-burnham-queen
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| Politics live blog: MPs debate health bill and Queen addresses Parliament | Politics live blog: MPs debate health bill and Queen addresses Parliament |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.19am: MPs and peers are now giving her a standing ovation. | |
| 11.16am: The Queen says she hopes the Diamond Jubilee will allow people to come together. | |
| She also wants to celebrate those who contribute through voluntary service. | |
| (So the Queen supports the Big Society?) | |
| And she pays tribute to the armed forces. Much has changed over 60 years. But the valour of the armed services "remains undimmed". | |
| She says she has signed more than 3,500 bills into law. | |
| She is very touched by the gift of the stained glass window. If it adds some colour to Westminster Hall, she will be pleased, she says. | |
| She is reminded of our national story. She is pleased to rededicate herself to her people, now and in the years to come. | |
| 11.13am: The Queen is speaking now. | |
| She says Parliament is a cornerstone of our national life. | |
| She is reassured that she is only the second sovereign to celebrate a diamond jubilee. | |
| Many MPs and peers were present 10 years ago, when she addressed Parliament for her Golden Jubilee, and some will remember the Silver one. | |
| She says she has had the privilege of dealing with 12 prime ministers. | |
| (This line gets a round of applause.) | |
| Venerable old age can be a mighty guide. But it is not a prerequisite to success in public office, she says. She is pleased to see younger people here. | |
| Prince Philip is well known for declining compliments, she says. But throught he has been a constant guide to her. | |
| She says her children and grandchildren are touring all the Commonwealth countries this year. | |
| 11.12am: The window is now being unveiled. | |
| I guess that means we can use the picture. | |
| 11.07am: Now it's John Bercow's turn. He says the "faithful Commons" are honoured to be here. | |
| They are pleased to have contribued to the jubilee window. It will remain in Westminster Hall. | |
| Time is better preserved in this historic place than human memory, he says. | |
| Sixty years ago a new Elizabethan era was awaited with enthusiasm, tinged with uncertainty. | |
| Bercow quotes Ghandi. If the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others, then the Queen must have found herself many times. | |
| The Queen has contributed continuity. Her "unique capacity" has been to hold together that which could have been torn asunder. | |
| In many ways Britain is "bigger, brigher and better". People are equal under the law, regardless of how they look, how they live and how they love. (Good to see he's slipped in gay rights.) The Queen is a "Kaleidoscope Queen", he says. | |
| (Did the Queen realise she was an emblem of gay rights? Not sure. She's still got her inscrutable expression on, so heaven knows what she makes of it.) | |
| Bercow finishes by saying thank you for all the Queen does for the country. | |
| Bercow also presents the Queen with a humble address. | |
| 11.06am: D'Souza presents a loyal address to the Queen. She accepts it. | |
| 11.05am: D'Souza turns to the Commonwealth. It is s "tremendous force for good in the world", she says. And it is still growing. She says she knows how important it is to the Queen's. | |
| Members of parliament are representing the Queen in all the lands where the Queen is head of state, she says. | |
| (That's quite a lot of freebies.) | |
| 11.02am: Lady D'Souza, the Lord Speaker, speaks first. | |
| She says MPs and peers record the Queen's service "with warmth and dedication". | |
| We celebrate too her stewardship of high office, she says. The Queen has personified continuity. She is an integral part of our national life. | |
| D'Souza says we're also celebrating Prince Philip's service. | |
| Parliament has the honour of being the first institution to honour her jubilee, D'Souza says. | |
| (You've probably got the drift of it by now. I'm not sure I need to go on.) | |
| 11.01am: One of the Queen's more endearing features is that she always looks rather bored on these occasions. MPs may be tweeting about her. But she's certainly not going to be tweeting about meeting them. | |
| 10.59am: She's here. Wearing yellow. Nick Clegg will be pleased. | |
| 10.50am: The Queen is on her way to Wesminster. The BBC helicopter is in action. | |
| 10.47am: MPs and peers have stumped up £85,000 to pay for a stained glass window in Wesminster Hall for the Queen. | |
| It's going to be unveiled later. But if the Queen has been reading the guardian.co.uk (as I'm sure she does), she may have already seen it. | |
| 10.43am: The ceremony is starting. | |
| We're going to get speeches from John Bercow, the Speaker, and Lady D'Souza, his opposite number in the Lords, before the Queen speaks. | |
| 10.42am: And here's more from Twitter | |
| The stained glass window that Members of both Houses are giving to the queen as a gift is behind that curtain twitpic.com/8yuled | |
| — Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) March 20, 2012 | |
| 10.28am: While MPs and peers wait for the Queen in Westminster Hall, some of them have been busy on Twitter. Here's a selection. | 10.28am: While MPs and peers wait for the Queen in Westminster Hall, some of them have been busy on Twitter. Here's a selection. |
| From Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary | From Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary |
| Looking forwrd to address by HM The Queen after she has unveiled breathtaking window designed by British artist John Reyntiens | Looking forwrd to address by HM The Queen after she has unveiled breathtaking window designed by British artist John Reyntiens |
| From Labour MP Mary Creagh | From Labour MP Mary Creagh |
| Off to see the Queen's speech in Westminster Hall. Real buzz about the place. | Off to see the Queen's speech in Westminster Hall. Real buzz about the place. |
| From Conservative MP Claire Perry | From Conservative MP Claire Perry |
| Much excitement in Westminster Hall as crowds assemble. Regretting not wearing a hat but many other plumes to admire. | Much excitement in Westminster Hall as crowds assemble. Regretting not wearing a hat but many other plumes to admire. |
| From Conservative MP Conor Burns | From Conservative MP Conor Burns |
| What a beautiful sunny day for the Queen's address to Parliament | What a beautiful sunny day for the Queen's address to Parliament |
| From Labour peer Stewart Wood | |
Waiting for the Queen in Westminster Hall, listening to the excellent warm-up band, and wondering if they do requests. | Waiting for the Queen in Westminster Hall, listening to the excellent warm-up band, and wondering if they do requests. |
| From Labour MP Chris Bryant | From Labour MP Chris Bryant |
| The TV camera looks like it was used on grandstand in the 1970s | The TV camera looks like it was used on grandstand in the 1970s |
| 10.24am: Later this week I'm interviewing Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary. If you'd like to suggest some questions, please post them on this blog. | 10.24am: Later this week I'm interviewing Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary. If you'd like to suggest some questions, please post them on this blog. |
| 10.19am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the Guardian politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. | 10.19am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the Guardian politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. |
| As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories and articles that are particularly interesting. | As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories and articles that are particularly interesting. |
| • Robert Winnett and James Kirkup in the Daily Telegraph says George Osborne's plan to show people exactly how their tax is spend will reveal how much goes on welfare. | • Robert Winnett and James Kirkup in the Daily Telegraph says George Osborne's plan to show people exactly how their tax is spend will reveal how much goes on welfare. |
| The move, which will come into force in 2014, is expected to help ministers persuade voters of the need for public spending cuts, including welfare payments, the biggest source of government expenditure and which accounts for about a third of all tax revenues. | The move, which will come into force in 2014, is expected to help ministers persuade voters of the need for public spending cuts, including welfare payments, the biggest source of government expenditure and which accounts for about a third of all tax revenues. |
| For example, according to Treasury calculations based on current taxes, someone earning £50,000 would be informed that their taxes will fund £4,727 worth of welfare payments, including £493 of housing benefit annually and £860 in sickness benefits. | For example, according to Treasury calculations based on current taxes, someone earning £50,000 would be informed that their taxes will fund £4,727 worth of welfare payments, including £493 of housing benefit annually and £860 in sickness benefits. |
| Somebody earning £25,000 spends the equivalent of £1,900 on welfare payments — almost four weeks of paid work, the figures show. | Somebody earning £25,000 spends the equivalent of £1,900 on welfare payments — almost four weeks of paid work, the figures show. |
| One government source said: "When people see how much they pay towards welfare, the argument about whether to cap benefits will be brought into sharp relief." | One government source said: "When people see how much they pay towards welfare, the argument about whether to cap benefits will be brought into sharp relief." |
| • Chris Giles in the Financial Times (subscription) says the Office for Budget Responsibility will slightly upgrade its growth forecast for 2012. | • Chris Giles in the Financial Times (subscription) says the Office for Budget Responsibility will slightly upgrade its growth forecast for 2012. |
| Treasury officials have expressed relief that the OBR's forecasts, which were finalised on March 7, are moving in line with private sector forecasts and are therefore optimistic that there are no nasty surprises in the figures which will spook bond markets. | Treasury officials have expressed relief that the OBR's forecasts, which were finalised on March 7, are moving in line with private sector forecasts and are therefore optimistic that there are no nasty surprises in the figures which will spook bond markets. |
| As evidence mounts that the economy hit a trough last October and has since begun to recover, economists are confident the OBR will raise its 0.7 per cent forecast for 2012 a touch to about 0.8 per cent and will not predict a technical recession of two consecutive quarters of negative growth. | As evidence mounts that the economy hit a trough last October and has since begun to recover, economists are confident the OBR will raise its 0.7 per cent forecast for 2012 a touch to about 0.8 per cent and will not predict a technical recession of two consecutive quarters of negative growth. |
| • Mary Riddell in the Daily Telegraph says some Labour MPs are beginning to lose faith in Ed Balls. | • Mary Riddell in the Daily Telegraph says some Labour MPs are beginning to lose faith in Ed Balls. |
| Santa, it seems, has smiled on Mr Balls, who is wondering "what planet" the Coalition is living on. The difficulty is that the 50p gift has been delivered at the precise moment when some Labour luminaries are becoming openly restive about life on Planet Balls. More than one senior figure is said to have met Ed Miliband privately to air concerns about Labour's dwindling credibility on the economy. | Santa, it seems, has smiled on Mr Balls, who is wondering "what planet" the Coalition is living on. The difficulty is that the 50p gift has been delivered at the precise moment when some Labour luminaries are becoming openly restive about life on Planet Balls. More than one senior figure is said to have met Ed Miliband privately to air concerns about Labour's dwindling credibility on the economy. |
| As one doubter puts the Balls conundrum: "The more the Tories have messed up, and the more Ed Balls is vindicated, the further we fall behind." That "very tense" mood is said to have spread to the shadow cabinet, with those who acknowledge Mr Balls's economic brilliance and political bullishness growing anxious about Labour's inability to shift public opinion. | As one doubter puts the Balls conundrum: "The more the Tories have messed up, and the more Ed Balls is vindicated, the further we fall behind." That "very tense" mood is said to have spread to the shadow cabinet, with those who acknowledge Mr Balls's economic brilliance and political bullishness growing anxious about Labour's inability to shift public opinion. |
| Some argue that with this Budget, Labour is about to miss a rare chance to set out just how it would impose fiscal discipline. In the absence of such a plan, sceptics fear that the Opposition cannot win in 2015. Mr Balls, who thinks mainstream party opinion is for more public spending, is not for turning. Despite some concessions on the "politics of pain" that Labour will have to impose, he considers that the party would appear "complete monkeys" if it had embraced Coalition-style austerity. | Some argue that with this Budget, Labour is about to miss a rare chance to set out just how it would impose fiscal discipline. In the absence of such a plan, sceptics fear that the Opposition cannot win in 2015. Mr Balls, who thinks mainstream party opinion is for more public spending, is not for turning. Despite some concessions on the "politics of pain" that Labour will have to impose, he considers that the party would appear "complete monkeys" if it had embraced Coalition-style austerity. |
| • Rachel Sylvester in the Times (paywall) says George Osborne has been reminding colleagues what the average salary actually is. | • Rachel Sylvester in the Times (paywall) says George Osborne has been reminding colleagues what the average salary actually is. |
| The Chancellor, who plays his politics more like chess than poker, understands the risk better than anyone. In interviews at the weekend, he repeatedly emphasised that this would be a "Budget for working people," aimed at "low and middle earners". In meetings at the Treasury and No 10, officials say that he has repeatedly reminded his colleagues that the average salary in Britain is only £26,000, less than a fifth of what a Cabinet minister earns. | The Chancellor, who plays his politics more like chess than poker, understands the risk better than anyone. In interviews at the weekend, he repeatedly emphasised that this would be a "Budget for working people," aimed at "low and middle earners". In meetings at the Treasury and No 10, officials say that he has repeatedly reminded his colleagues that the average salary in Britain is only £26,000, less than a fifth of what a Cabinet minister earns. |
| According to one ally, he puts as much importance on the "empathy" described in Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments as on the free market economics championed in The Wealth of Nations. The search has been on for what officials call "this year's non-dom levy" — the proposal to charge those registered abroad for tax purposes that Mr Osborne announced alongside the inheritance tax cut at the Tory conference in 2007. It wrongfooted Mr Brown, forcing him to abandon plans to call an election, one of the Chancellor's proudest political achievements. | According to one ally, he puts as much importance on the "empathy" described in Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments as on the free market economics championed in The Wealth of Nations. The search has been on for what officials call "this year's non-dom levy" — the proposal to charge those registered abroad for tax purposes that Mr Osborne announced alongside the inheritance tax cut at the Tory conference in 2007. It wrongfooted Mr Brown, forcing him to abandon plans to call an election, one of the Chancellor's proudest political achievements. |
| It is likely that Mr Osborne will announce a new minimum rate of tax that everyone will pay, irrespective of how they define their income, as part of a range of measures designed to squeeze the super-rich. A version of the "tycoon tax" floated by Mr Clegg, this is said to go beyond closing loopholes and clamping down on stamp duty evasion — "the Office for Budgetary Responsibility is a built-in defence against wishy-washiness," says one insider. Mr Osborne is also expected to make the case that the Budget measures will, overall, redistribute money from rich to poor. | It is likely that Mr Osborne will announce a new minimum rate of tax that everyone will pay, irrespective of how they define their income, as part of a range of measures designed to squeeze the super-rich. A version of the "tycoon tax" floated by Mr Clegg, this is said to go beyond closing loopholes and clamping down on stamp duty evasion — "the Office for Budgetary Responsibility is a built-in defence against wishy-washiness," says one insider. Mr Osborne is also expected to make the case that the Budget measures will, overall, redistribute money from rich to poor. |
| 9.49am: Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, was on Radio 5 Live this morning renewing his call for the publication of the NHS's transitional risk register (the one explaining the risk associated with the health bill). He insisted publication would not pose a risk. | 9.49am: Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, was on Radio 5 Live this morning renewing his call for the publication of the NHS's transitional risk register (the one explaining the risk associated with the health bill). He insisted publication would not pose a risk. |
| Let's clear this up. The information tribunal dealt very clearly with this issue. It said government shouldn't publish its assessment of on-going risks beyond direct control. They're the most serious risks such as a terrorist attack or a health pandemic. But it said it should publish a specific assessment of ministers' own policies. Let's be clear about this. It's this government that's chosen to reorganise the NHS at this moment of the greatest financial challenge and that policy is putting the NHS at risk and our argument is they should be honest about those risks before they ask Parliament to approve them. | Let's clear this up. The information tribunal dealt very clearly with this issue. It said government shouldn't publish its assessment of on-going risks beyond direct control. They're the most serious risks such as a terrorist attack or a health pandemic. But it said it should publish a specific assessment of ministers' own policies. Let's be clear about this. It's this government that's chosen to reorganise the NHS at this moment of the greatest financial challenge and that policy is putting the NHS at risk and our argument is they should be honest about those risks before they ask Parliament to approve them. |
| And this is what Simon Burns, the health minister, told the same programme about why the government would not publish the risk register. | And this is what Simon Burns, the health minister, told the same programme about why the government would not publish the risk register. |
As you know the risk register is an internal management document issued by civil servants and ministers to formulate policy, and for those reasons we think it is wrong to put it in the public domain because it means you can't have full and frank discussions between civil servants and ministers which will consider a range of options. | As you know the risk register is an internal management document issued by civil servants and ministers to formulate policy, and for those reasons we think it is wrong to put it in the public domain because it means you can't have full and frank discussions between civil servants and ministers which will consider a range of options. |
| Having a risk register is one of the ways in which government, and it's across government, not just the Department of Health, formulates and considers policy from all angles. If one had that in the public domain immediately then you can just see people like Andy Burnham jumping on it, taking a worst case scenario and then distorting it and you could not have government functioning. | Having a risk register is one of the ways in which government, and it's across government, not just the Department of Health, formulates and considers policy from all angles. If one had that in the public domain immediately then you can just see people like Andy Burnham jumping on it, taking a worst case scenario and then distorting it and you could not have government functioning. |
| I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
| 9.44am: Downing Street has released the text of a letter that David Cameron has sent to Nicolas Sakozy about the shootings at the Jewish school in Toulouse yesterday. Here it is. | 9.44am: Downing Street has released the text of a letter that David Cameron has sent to Nicolas Sakozy about the shootings at the Jewish school in Toulouse yesterday. Here it is. |
| Dear Nicolas, | Dear Nicolas, |
| I was appalled to learn of the recent shootings that France has suffered, including in Toulouse this morning. People across Britain share the shock and grief that is being felt in France, and my thoughts are with the victims, their friends and their families. I know that France will draw strength and comfort from your resolute leadership at this difficult time. You can count on my every support in confronting these senseless acts of brutality and cowardice. | I was appalled to learn of the recent shootings that France has suffered, including in Toulouse this morning. People across Britain share the shock and grief that is being felt in France, and my thoughts are with the victims, their friends and their families. I know that France will draw strength and comfort from your resolute leadership at this difficult time. You can count on my every support in confronting these senseless acts of brutality and cowardice. |
| Yours, | Yours, |
| David. | David. |
| 9.32am: Here are the headline inflation figures. | 9.32am: Here are the headline inflation figures. |
| • The consumer prices index rate of inflation fell to 3.4% in February, from 3.6% in January. | • The consumer prices index rate of inflation fell to 3.4% in February, from 3.6% in January. |
| • The headline retail prices index rate of inflation fell to 3.7% in February, from 3.9% in January. | • The headline retail prices index rate of inflation fell to 3.7% in February, from 3.9% in January. |
| • The underlying RPI rate of inflation fell to 3.8% in February, from 4% in January. Here's the Office for National Statistics bulletin, with the full details (pdf). | • The underlying RPI rate of inflation fell to 3.8% in February, from 4% in January. Here's the Office for National Statistics bulletin, with the full details (pdf). |
| 8.45am: It's special occasion time at the Houses of Parliament. The entrance to Westminster Hall has been spruced up, the security seems tighter than usual and the broadcasters are camping out on Abingdon Green. All this for the final day of the health and social security bill? No, it's because the Queen is coming to address Parliament. We don't know what she's going to say because, as a BBC correspondent was complaining on the Today programme this morning, Buckingham Palace doesn't go in for advance briefing (unlike the Treasury, which has been pumping out yet more information about tomorrow's budget, including plans for everyone to get a detailed statement about how their taxes are spent and details of its credit-easing scheme). It would be fun if the Queen were to use her speech to urge the government to drop the health bill. But somehow I think that's unlikely. | 8.45am: It's special occasion time at the Houses of Parliament. The entrance to Westminster Hall has been spruced up, the security seems tighter than usual and the broadcasters are camping out on Abingdon Green. All this for the final day of the health and social security bill? No, it's because the Queen is coming to address Parliament. We don't know what she's going to say because, as a BBC correspondent was complaining on the Today programme this morning, Buckingham Palace doesn't go in for advance briefing (unlike the Treasury, which has been pumping out yet more information about tomorrow's budget, including plans for everyone to get a detailed statement about how their taxes are spent and details of its credit-easing scheme). It would be fun if the Queen were to use her speech to urge the government to drop the health bill. But somehow I think that's unlikely. |
| MPs will be debating the health bill in the afternoon. The bill cleared the Lords last night and today's debate should be the final stage before the bill gets Royal Assent. My colleague Denis Campbell, the Guardian's health correspondent, will be contributing to the blog. | MPs will be debating the health bill in the afternoon. The bill cleared the Lords last night and today's debate should be the final stage before the bill gets Royal Assent. My colleague Denis Campbell, the Guardian's health correspondent, will be contributing to the blog. |
| Here's the full agenda for the day. | Here's the full agenda for the day. |
| 9am: The cabinet meets. | 9am: The cabinet meets. |
| 9.15am: Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Ofsted chief inspector, gives a speech to the Policy Exchange thinktank. | 9.15am: Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Ofsted chief inspector, gives a speech to the Policy Exchange thinktank. |
| 9.30am: Inflation figures are published. | 9.30am: Inflation figures are published. |
| 9.45am: Unions learn whether they have won their Court of Appeal battle against a government decision to change the way public sector pension increases are calculated. | 9.45am: Unions learn whether they have won their Court of Appeal battle against a government decision to change the way public sector pension increases are calculated. |
| 10am: Bernard Hogan-Howe, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, gives evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Other witnesses will include crime correspondents Justin Penrose of the Sunday Mirror and Tom Pettifor of the Daily Mirror, and West Midlands Police chief constable Chris Sims. | 10am: Bernard Hogan-Howe, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, gives evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Other witnesses will include crime correspondents Justin Penrose of the Sunday Mirror and Tom Pettifor of the Daily Mirror, and West Midlands Police chief constable Chris Sims. |
| 10.30am: The Queen addresses MPs and peers in Westminster Hall to mark her Diamond Jubilee. | 10.30am: The Queen addresses MPs and peers in Westminster Hall to mark her Diamond Jubilee. |
| 1.30pm: Unison hold a protest in Westminster against the health bill. | 1.30pm: Unison hold a protest in Westminster against the health bill. |
| 2.30pm: Nick Clegg answers deputy prime minister's questions in the Commons. | 2.30pm: Nick Clegg answers deputy prime minister's questions in the Commons. |
| 3.40pm: MPs debate the emergency motion about whether the health bill should be postponed until the bill's risk register has been published. The debate will last for 90 minutes. | 3.40pm: MPs debate the emergency motion about whether the health bill should be postponed until the bill's risk register has been published. The debate will last for 90 minutes. |
| Around 5.30pm: MPs start their final debate on the health bill. | Around 5.30pm: MPs start their final debate on the health bill. |
| At some point today Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, is giving a speech to the Africa Investment Summit. | At some point today Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, is giving a speech to the Africa Investment Summit. |
| As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another in the afternoon. | As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another in the afternoon. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |