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| Queen's Speech: Plan to simplify pensions and rights | Queen's Speech: Plan to simplify pensions and rights |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Changes to the state pension and clearer rights for consumers are among the government's plans featured in the Queen's Speech. | Changes to the state pension and clearer rights for consumers are among the government's plans featured in the Queen's Speech. |
| The legislative programme brings together a string of proposals that have already been through a period of consultation. | The legislative programme brings together a string of proposals that have already been through a period of consultation. |
| A consumer Bill of Rights will beef up protection for digital purchases. | A consumer Bill of Rights will beef up protection for digital purchases. |
| And new legislation covering energy, water, national insurance payments, and intellectual property is included. | And new legislation covering energy, water, national insurance payments, and intellectual property is included. |
| Pension overhaul | Pension overhaul |
| The speech has outlined plans to simplify both the state pension and consumer rights. | The speech has outlined plans to simplify both the state pension and consumer rights. |
| This includes a flat-rate state pension of about £144 a week, which is planned to start for new pensioners from 2016. | This includes a flat-rate state pension of about £144 a week, which is planned to start for new pensioners from 2016. |
| The new flat-rate pension replaces the current basic pension of £110 a week, plus various means-tested top-ups. | The new flat-rate pension replaces the current basic pension of £110 a week, plus various means-tested top-ups. |
| The change involves merging the state second pension with the basic state pension. | The change involves merging the state second pension with the basic state pension. |
| As part of this change, derived entitlement to the basic state pension - where someone receives a married person's pension or a widow's or widower's pension based not on their own working life but the National Insurance record of their spouse or civil partner - will also go. | As part of this change, derived entitlement to the basic state pension - where someone receives a married person's pension or a widow's or widower's pension based not on their own working life but the National Insurance record of their spouse or civil partner - will also go. |
| This is currently claimed by about 1.7 million people, including 220,000 people who are receiving it while living overseas. About 70% of payments since 2010 were to men living overseas who married women who had a UK National Insurance contribution record. | |
| Faulty goods rules | Faulty goods rules |
| A draft Consumer Rights Bill, to be published in the summer by the government, will bring together a range of consumer protection that has built up over time. | A draft Consumer Rights Bill, to be published in the summer by the government, will bring together a range of consumer protection that has built up over time. |
| It will also update the law to introduce new protection for consumer who buy digital content, such as e-books, digital music, games and software. | It will also update the law to introduce new protection for consumer who buy digital content, such as e-books, digital music, games and software. |
| The draft bill will also outline detail such as amount of time consumers have to return faulty goods for repair, replacement or refund. | The draft bill will also outline detail such as amount of time consumers have to return faulty goods for repair, replacement or refund. |
| Trading standards officers will also be given the power to seek compensation from the courts on behalf of consumers. | Trading standards officers will also be given the power to seek compensation from the courts on behalf of consumers. |
| Consumer groups have welcomed the plan to change the law which they regarded as outdated, and to simplify legislation to make it easier for consumers to be aware of their rights. | Consumer groups have welcomed the plan to change the law which they regarded as outdated, and to simplify legislation to make it easier for consumers to be aware of their rights. |
| The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) said it welcomed the move, but urged the government not to dilute the powers of trading standards officers powers to enter premises unannounced, currently part of the plans. | The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) said it welcomed the move, but urged the government not to dilute the powers of trading standards officers powers to enter premises unannounced, currently part of the plans. |
| Caroline Flint, Labour's shadow energy secretary, said that the plans failed to address issues such as excessive charges on private pensions, and costs affecting consumers such as high rail fares. | Caroline Flint, Labour's shadow energy secretary, said that the plans failed to address issues such as excessive charges on private pensions, and costs affecting consumers such as high rail fares. |
| Business highlights | Business highlights |
| On energy, there will be legislation aimed at incentivising businesses to invest in new sources of low-carbon power, from wind farms to nuclear power stations. | On energy, there will be legislation aimed at incentivising businesses to invest in new sources of low-carbon power, from wind farms to nuclear power stations. |
| The Bill will also set up a "capacity market" aimed at ensuring continuity of electricity supply during periods of peak demand. | The Bill will also set up a "capacity market" aimed at ensuring continuity of electricity supply during periods of peak demand. |
| Other highlights of the legislative programme include: | Other highlights of the legislative programme include: |