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Queen's speech puts 'growth, justice and constitutional reform' at its heart Queen's speech puts 'growth, justice and constitutional reform' at its heart
(about 2 hours later)
The government intends to plough ahead with reforming the House of Lords as part of a legislative programme for the year ahead which puts "economic growth, justice and constitutional reform" at the heart of its agenda. The government intends to plough ahead with reforming the House of Lords as part of a legislative programme for the year ahead that puts "economic growth, justice and constitutional reform" at the heart of its agenda.
Outlining the government's legislative plans for the next session of parliament, the Queen also announced a package of measures to support families and children, break up the banks to prevent a repeat of the financial crash and legislation to remove the UK from any liability for future EU bailouts.Outlining the government's legislative plans for the next session of parliament, the Queen also announced a package of measures to support families and children, break up the banks to prevent a repeat of the financial crash and legislation to remove the UK from any liability for future EU bailouts.
In a speech delivered in the House of Lords amid the traditional pomp and ceremony of the state opening of parliament, the Queen set out 19 government bills, including four in draft form, reflecting the respective priorities of the coalition parties.In a speech delivered in the House of Lords amid the traditional pomp and ceremony of the state opening of parliament, the Queen set out 19 government bills, including four in draft form, reflecting the respective priorities of the coalition parties.
The legislative programme was unveiled the day after David Cameron and Nick Clegg chose a factory in Essex to reaffirm the coalition's mission to tackle the deficit and boost economic growth in the wake of grim local election results for their respective parties. The legislative programme was unveiled the day after David Cameron and Nick Clegg chose a factory in Essex to reaffirm the coalition's mission to tackle the deficit and boost economic growth in the wake of grim local election results for their parties.
Opening her speech, the Queen said reducing the deficit and restoring economic stability was "my ministers' first priority" as she unveiled the enterprise and regulatory bill. The legislation was designed to create "the right conditions for economic recovery" by reducing regulatory burdens, introducing changes to employment law that weaken workers' rights to give employers "more confidence to hire new staff" and "strengthening the framework for setting directors' pay".Opening her speech, the Queen said reducing the deficit and restoring economic stability was "my ministers' first priority" as she unveiled the enterprise and regulatory bill. The legislation was designed to create "the right conditions for economic recovery" by reducing regulatory burdens, introducing changes to employment law that weaken workers' rights to give employers "more confidence to hire new staff" and "strengthening the framework for setting directors' pay".
Others include a pensions bill to modernise the pension system and reform the state pension, legislation to move towards the introduction of televising court proceedings "in limited circumstances" to help demystify the justice system, and a new offence of driving under the influence of drugs.Others include a pensions bill to modernise the pension system and reform the state pension, legislation to move towards the introduction of televising court proceedings "in limited circumstances" to help demystify the justice system, and a new offence of driving under the influence of drugs.
But David Cameron's refusal to pay heed to Tory calls to ditch controversial plans to reform the House of Lords – a key Liberal Democrat demand in the coalition deal – is likely to provoke the greatest resistance from sections of the Tory backbenches, as well as peers, in the coming year.But David Cameron's refusal to pay heed to Tory calls to ditch controversial plans to reform the House of Lords – a key Liberal Democrat demand in the coalition deal – is likely to provoke the greatest resistance from sections of the Tory backbenches, as well as peers, in the coming year.
Legislating for a mainly elected second chamber raises the spectre of heated battles between opponents and supporters of reform which could consume weeks of parliamentary time.Legislating for a mainly elected second chamber raises the spectre of heated battles between opponents and supporters of reform which could consume weeks of parliamentary time.
The controversial measures could result in an 80% elected upper house using a PR voting system, with numbers of peers "substantially" cut from their current 800. The controversial measures could result in an 80% elected upper house using a PR voting system, with numbers of peers cut "substantially" from 800.
The prime minister and his Liberal Democrat deputy Nick Clegg said that while constitutional reform was not their government's top priority, it was right to press ahead with the controversial reforms, which featured in the manifestos of all three major parties in the 2010 general election. The prime minister and his Liberal Democrat deputy said that while constitutional reform was not their government's top priority, it was right to press ahead with the controversial reforms, which featured in the manifestos of all three major parties in the 2010 general election.
In a joint statement prefacing the Queen's speech, they said: "We believe that power should be passed from the politicians at Westminster back to the people of Britain, which is why we will keep the promise in our parties' manifestos and reform the House of Lords, because those who make laws for the people should answer to the people."In a joint statement prefacing the Queen's speech, they said: "We believe that power should be passed from the politicians at Westminster back to the people of Britain, which is why we will keep the promise in our parties' manifestos and reform the House of Lords, because those who make laws for the people should answer to the people."
Cameron and Clegg stressed that the government's main focus over the coming year would remain on bringing down the state deficit and promoting economic growth. Cameron and Clegg stressed that the government's main focus over the coming year would remain bringing down the state deficit and promoting economic growth.
"The primary task of the government remains ensuring that we deal with the deficit and stretch every sinew to return growth to the economy, providing jobs and opportunities to hard-working people across Britain who want to get on.""The primary task of the government remains ensuring that we deal with the deficit and stretch every sinew to return growth to the economy, providing jobs and opportunities to hard-working people across Britain who want to get on."
On justice, the crime and courts bill outlines plans for a US-style National Crime Agency to take on serious, organised and complex crime, enhance border security, and tackle the sexual abuse and exploitation of children as well as cybercrime. The agency has already been announced as a replacement for the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), which itself was heralded as "Britain's FBI" when it was launched by Labour in 2006. On justice, the crime and courts bill outlines plans for a US-style National Crime Agency to take on serious, organised and complex crime, enhance border security, and tackle the sexual abuse and exploitation of children as well as cybercrime. The agency has already been announced as a replacement for the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), which was heralded as "Britain's FBI" when it was launched by Labour in 2006.
Powers will also be brought in to enable magistrates to dispense summary neighbourhood justice, and the system for paying fines will be changed so offenders, not taxpayers, incur the cost of delaying payment.Powers will also be brought in to enable magistrates to dispense summary neighbourhood justice, and the system for paying fines will be changed so offenders, not taxpayers, incur the cost of delaying payment.
Plans to strengthen the law to allow children to enjoy a relationship with both parents if families break up – as long as it is in the child's best interests – are outlined in the children and families bill. The government will consult on legal options.Plans to strengthen the law to allow children to enjoy a relationship with both parents if families break up – as long as it is in the child's best interests – are outlined in the children and families bill. The government will consult on legal options.
The bill also sets out plans to speed up adoption and care proceedings and give families more choice and control over support for children with special educational needs (SEN).The bill also sets out plans to speed up adoption and care proceedings and give families more choice and control over support for children with special educational needs (SEN).
The system of SEN statements for children with disabilities and learning difficulties will be replaced in England from 2014 by a simpler assessment process providing statutory protection up to the age of 25 for those who go into further education, rather than it being cut off at 16.The system of SEN statements for children with disabilities and learning difficulties will be replaced in England from 2014 by a simpler assessment process providing statutory protection up to the age of 25 for those who go into further education, rather than it being cut off at 16.
The bill also lays out flexible parental leave which would give working parents the choice of sharing caring responsibilities. The bill also lays out flexible parental leave, which would give working parents the choice of sharing caring responsibilities.
Other bills include the public service pensions bill to reform the schemes of millions of public sector workers, unveiled on the eve of a fresh strike by tens of thousands of workers outlining their opposition to the move.Other bills include the public service pensions bill to reform the schemes of millions of public sector workers, unveiled on the eve of a fresh strike by tens of thousands of workers outlining their opposition to the move.
The Queen also noted her diamond jubilee year, which will see a four-day weekend in the first week of June by moving the late May bank holiday to Monday 4 June and adding an extra bank holiday on Tuesday 5 June, as well as the forthcoming London Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queen also noted her diamond jubilee year, which will create a four-day weekend in the first week of June by moving the late May bank holiday to Monday 4 June and adding an extra bank holiday the following day, as well as the forthcoming London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"In the year of the Diamond Jubilee, Prince Philip and I will continue to take part in celebrations across the United Kingdom. The Prince of Wales and other members of my family are travelling widely to take part in festivities throughout the Commonwealth." "In the year of the diamond jubilee, Prince Philip and I will continue to take part in celebrations across the United Kingdom. The Prince of Wales and other members of my family are travelling widely to take part in festivities throughout the Commonwealth."