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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
Trade Union Group of Labour MPs
Queen‟s Speech 2007
Briefing
The Government‟s legislative plans
for the 2007/08 Parliamentary
Session
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
CONTENTS
Summary of Bills 4
DETAILS OF EACH BILL
Banking System Bill 9
Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill 10
Children & Young People Bill 11
Climate Change Bill 13
Counter-Terrorism Bill 15
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill 16
Education & Skills Bill 17
Employment Bill 19
Energy Bill 20
European Communities Finance Bill 22
European Reform Treaty Bill 23
Health & Social Care Bill 25
Housing and Regeneration Bill 27
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill 28
Local Transport Bill 30
National Insurance Contributions Bill 33
Party Finance and Expenditure 34
Pensions Bill 35
Planning Reform Bill 37
Regulatory Enforcement & Sanctions Bill 38
Sale of Student Loans Bill 39
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
DRAFT LEGISLATION & OTHER KEY ISSUES
Work-Family Balance: Flexible Working 40
DRAFT BILLS
Constitutional Renewal Bill 43
Heritage Protection Bill (Cultural Property 45
(Armed Conflict) Bill)
Citizenship & Immigration Bill 46
Marine Bill 47
Marine Navigation & Port Safety Bill 48
Apprenticeship Reform Bill 49
CARRY OVER BILLS
Child Maintenance & Other Payments Bill 52
Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill 54
Crossrail Bill 56
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SUMMARY OF BILLS
This briefing includes details of the Bills and Draft Bills the Government plans to
introduce as part of the legislative programme for 2007/08. It also provides
details of 3 Carry-over Bills.
The Banking System Bill will improve the current framework for dealing
with banks in distress, including the arrangements for depositor
protection.
The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill will put the new high speed rail link,
from the Channel Tunnel to London St Pancras, on a sustainable footing
for the longer-term.
The Children & Young People Bill will help transform the life chances of
children and young people in care - and as the Government puts the
needs of children in care at the centre of delivering our Every Child
Matters agenda - The Government will further reform the statutory
framework around the care system.
The Climate Change Bill will enhance our efforts to tackle climate change.
It will make the UK the first country in the world to put into legislation a
long term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will set out a
framework for achieving this.
The Counter-Terrorism Bill will ensure that the police and law
enforcement agencies have the powers they need to protect the public
against terrorism, whilst preserving essential rights and liberties.
The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill will make money
lying dormant in the banking system available for our Communities, in
particular to meet the Government‟s commitment to use this money to
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fund the provision of a youth facility in every constituency. It will also be
used for financial inclusion, financial capability and social investment.
The Education & Skills Bill will take the historic step to raise the
participation age to 18, giving every young person the chance to stay on
in education, training or work-based learning. The Bill will also help us
deliver our ambition of achieving world class skills by 2020.
The Employment Bill will take new steps to protect vulnerable workers by
increasing penalties for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and
crack down on abuses that can occur in the agency work sector. The bill
recognises that the current statutory workplace grievance procedure is
too bureaucratic and burdensome for employers and employees alike, so
the Government is replacing it with a new system that will enable more
cases to be resolved informally – saving time and money. The bill will
also change the law to allow trade unions to provide clearer rights for
trade unions to determine their membership.
The Energy Bill will strengthen the legal framework of our energy market
to help ensure clean, secure and affordable energy supplies.
The European Communities (Finance) Bill will provide backing in UK law for
the new system of financing the EU Budget agreed at the June 2007
meeting of the European Council. The Bill reflects the consensus reached
between the EU members. It provides the financial foundation for the
future direction of the EU‟s budget.
The European Reform Treaty Bill will ratify the European Reform Treaty,
which the Government expect to be signed at the European Council on
13-14 December. The Treaty will move the European debate on from the
inward-looking institutional questions, to focus on real issues that
actually matter to the people who live in the Member States.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
The Health & Social Care Bill will enhance professional regulation and
create a new integrated regulator (the Care Quality Commission) for
health and adult social care, which will focus on providing assurance of
the safety and quality of care for patients and service users.
The Housing and Regeneration Bill will reform social housing regulation,
placing tenants at the heart of social housing.
The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Bill will ensure that legitimate
medical and scientific uses of human reproductive technologies continue
to flourish, and maintain the UK‟s position as a world leader in ground-
breaking research. The Bill will update the regulation of assisted
reproduction, ensuring it is fit for purpose in the 21st century and fully
reflective of modern society.
The Local Transport Bill will devolve powers to local authorities who
understand local transport needs best. It will give local authorities
greater local freedom and choice - with increased flexibility and powers to
deliver better bus services and a more integrated transport system
tailored to local needs.
The National Insurance Contributions Bill includes changes to simplify
National Insurance Contributions by aligning the Upper Earnings Limit (for
employees) and the Upper Profits Limit (for small businesses), with the
level at which higher rate income tax becomes payable from 2009/10.
The Party Finance and Expenditure will bring forward proposals on the
regulation of party finance and expenditure. There is clearly a need to
make existing legislation governing spending limits more effective.
The Pensions Bill will underscore The Government‟s commitment to
building a new pensions settlement that will last for future generations,
tackling the problem of under-saving for retirement by extending
occupational pension provision to those who do not currently benefit from
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it.
The Planning Reform Bill will modernise and improve the efficiency of the
planning system, while increasing its transparency and the opportunities
for the public and parliament to be involved in the planning process.
The Regulatory Enforcement & Sanctions Bill will help businesses stay
competitive in the global economy by taking radical measures to reduce
red tape from regulators and local inspectors.
The Sale of Student Loans Bill will raise significant funds for the
government, by selling the student loans portfolio.
DRAFT BILLS
The Constitutional Renewal Bill will work to strengthen the relationship
between citizens, society and the state by entrusting Parliament and the
people with more power.
The Heritage Protection Bill will put in place a unified heritage protection
system that is easier to understand and to use and it will also ratify the
1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict.
The Citizenship & Immigration Bill will simplify and streamline immigration
legislation, replacing existing laws in this area with a clear, consistent and
coherent legal framework for the control of our borders and the
management of migration.
The Marine Bill will introduce a new framework for the seas, based on marine
spatial planning, that balances conservation, energy and resource needs.
The Marine Navigation & Ports Safety Bill will ensure a safe and thriving
global shipping industry which the Government see as vital to the UK
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economy.
CARRYOVER BILLS
The Child Maintenance & Other Payments Bill will replace the Child
Support Agency with a new Child Maintenance and Enforcement
Commission (C-MEC) and a new child maintenance system.
The Criminal Justice & Immigration Bill will aim to tackle anti-social
behaviour, cut crime and ensure that the criminal justice system is firmly
on the side of the law abiding citizen.
The Crossrail Bill will ensure Government has all the powers necessary to
enable the construction, maintenance and operation of Crossrail, a new
east-west railway linking Maidenhead and Heathrow with Shenfield and
Abbey Wood through new tunnels under central London.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007:
BILLS IN DETAIL
BANKING SYSTEM BILL
Recent events have demonstrated the importance of deposit or confidence if
institutions are to weather periods of financial instability.
To maintain trust in the financial system, consumers want to be sure that they
will be able to get their money back in a timely fashion if a bank were to run into
problems. They also want to know that there are strong safeguards in place.
The purpose of legislation will be, in line with the Government‟s objectives of
financial stability, competitiveness and consumer confidence, to improve the
current framework for dealing with banks in distress, including the
arrangements for depositor protection.
In bringing forward this legislation, the Government is committed to seeking and
listening to a wide range of views.
What the Bill will do
Building on the changes the Government have made to the financial
services compensation scheme - which now covers 100% of the loss
incurred on deposits up to £35,000 - this bill provide greater protection
for depositors in the event of a bank failure, less risk of contagion to
wider financial stability and greater protection for the general taxpayer
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CHANNEL TUNNEL RAIL LINK BILL
The Government has successfully delivered completion of the new high speed
rail link from the Channel Tunnel to London St Pancras (opened by HM Queen
and PM on 6 Nov). Our aim now is to put the new line on a sustainable footing
for the longer-term. Now construction has been completed, this Bill will enable
us to put in place a sustainable operational structure.
What the bill will do
The Bill will enable the restructuring and sale of HS1 (the railway infrastructure),
the UK interest in Eurostar, and significant related property interests.
The aim of the Bill is to clarify points relating to the legislation which applies to
the new railway, ahead of a restructuring of London and Continental
Railways, the company that built it. The company owns the track, property
around Kings Cross and Stratford and the UK element of Eurostar.
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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS BILL
To help transform the life chances of children and young people in care - and as
the Government puts the needs of children in care at the centre of delivering our
Every Child Matters agenda - the Government will further reform the statutory
framework around the care system.
The Government recognises that children in care are one of the most vulnerable
groups in society. The majority of children who remain in care are there because
they have suffered abuse or neglect.
Children in care are five times less likely to achieve five good GCSEs, nine times
more likely to be excluded from school, six times less likely to enter higher
education. At any one time, around 60,000 children are in care in England,
although some 85,000 pass through the care system in any year.
s believe that local authorities must be the best possible parents and that
children and young people in care deserve to live in a stable and happy
environment. Placing new responsibilities on Local Authorities to better support
children in care will result in greatly improved outcomes and opportunities.
The Bill follows our „Care Matters‟ White Paper which set out the reforms needed
to transform the life chances of children and young people in care.
What the Bill will do
The Bill will:
enable local authorities to test a different model of organising social care
by delegating social work functions to „social work practices‟ and (following
piloting) enable regulation of social work practices if pilots demonstrate
success in improving outcomes;
increase the focus on the transparency and quality of care planning and
ensuring that the child‟s voice is heard when important decisions that
affect their future are taken, in particular by strengthening the role of the
Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO);
increase schools‟ capacity to address the needs of children in care
including placing the role of the designated teacher on a statutory footing
and ensuring that children in care do not move schools, particularly in GCSE
years, except in exceptional circumstances;
ensure that young people (up to 18) are not forced out of care before they
are ready by giving them a greater say over moves to independent living
and ensuring they retain support and guidance as long as they need it; and
improve the quality and stability of placements for children in care, limiting
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“out of authority” placements, securing higher placement standards and
ensuring children in care in custody are visited regularly.
The key principles behind the Bill are:
good parenting from everyone in the system and stability in every aspect of
the child's experience of care
centrality of the voice of the child, especially when important decisions that
affect the child‟s future are taken
uncompromisingly high ambitions for children in care: to close the
attainment gap for children in care and ensure they reach their full
potential
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CLIMATE CHANGE BILL
The Government is introducing a Bill to enhance our efforts to tackle climate
change. This will make the UK the first country in the world to put into
legislation a long term target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will set
out a framework for achieving this. When published in draft it was also the first
bill in the history of our Parliament to be drafted in gender neutral language.
Climate change is the greatest political challenge of our generation.
This bill is more evidence of The Government showing international
leadership.
The Stern Review showed that the cost of dealing with climate change will be
much less than the cost of not dealing with it.
What the Bill will do
Make the UK the first country in the world to have a legally binding
long term framework to cut CO2 emissions and adapt to climate
change.
Be even stronger as a result of public consultation and parliamentary
scrutiny: the Government will review the 2050 goal of at least a 60%
reduction in CO2 emissions to see if it should be stronger still,
including the implications of including other greenhouse gases and
emissions from international aviation and shipping. A good Bill has
been made better.
Create a new approach to managing and responding to climate
change in the UK through setting ambitious targets, taking powers to
help achieve them, strengthening the institutional framework, and
establishing clear and regular accountability to the UK to Parliament
and devolved legislatures.
Create increased confidence and certainty for business planning and
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investment in technology needed to move towards a low carbon
economy.
Demonstrate the UK‟s international leadership to help make progress
towards a global agreement.
Provide an overall framework for tackling climate change. In tandem
with the proposals in the Energy White Paper, and the forthcoming
Energy Bill and the English Planning Bill, the Climate Change Bill is
part of a package of action to progress the UK‟s transition to a low
carbon economy.
The joint nature of the Bill represents the partnership amongst the
four parts of the UK in tackling the challenge of climate change.
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COUNTER TERRORISM BILL
The Government is committed to ensuring that the police and law enforcement
agencies have the powers they need to protect the public against terrorism,
whilst preserving essential rights and liberties.
The threat from terrorism is serious and sustained. The scale and nature of the
current terrorist threat and the increasing complexity of cases means it is right
to look again at strengthening the provisions the Government have in place.
The Government is therefore introducing new measures to strengthen terrorist
prosecutions and to deal with terrorists after they have been charged.
Our intention is to ensure that the police and CPS have up to date and effective
tools for dealing with terrorist investigations and offences.
The Government also wants to strengthen prosecutions by making sure that the
police have sufficient time and opportunity to charge and question terrorist
suspects, and have the right tools to deal with terrorist suspects who cannot
prosecute.
The Government has been consulting widely on measures for incorporation in
the Bill and are considering legislative options in relation to pre-charge detention
in terrorist cases. The scale and nature of the current terrorist threat and the
increasing complexity of cases means it is right to look again at the time limit on
pre-charge detention. Based on trends, the Government believes there is a case
for going beyond 28 days in future. This will only be necessary in exceptional
circumstances – where there are multiple plots, or links with multiple countries,
or exceptional levels of complexity.
Other measures which could be included are:
Requirement for convicted terrorists to provide the police with personal
information on their release from prison and to notify them of any changes.
Introduction of a foreign travel order to enable convicted terrorists to be banned
from travelling overseas.
Changes to enable post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects.
Measures to ensure that full use can be made of DNA in terrorism investigations.
Territorial extent
UK. Some areas may touch on devolved issues, which the Government will consider,
such as putting the police Counter Terror DNA database on a statutory footing.
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DORMANT BANK AND BUILDING SOCIETY
ACCOUNTS (FORMERLY UNCLAIMED ASSETS)
BILL
Money lying dormant in the banking system will be made available for our
Communities, in particular to meet the Government‟s commitment to use this
money to fund the provision of a youth facility in every constituency. It will also
be used for financial inclusion, financial capability and social investment.
To ensure consumers are protected – they will be able to reclaim their money at
any time in the future, will have equivalent protection to those with a bank and
will continue to deal with their bank directly to reclaim their money.
The purpose of the Bill is to
The Bill will enable unclaimed assets to be invested for community purposes,
whilst ensuring the rights of owners to be reunited with their assets are
protected.
What the Bill will do
Funds reinvested in the Community: money not needed to manage
customer reclaim to be reinvested in communities via the BIG
lottery fund. In England initial spending will be on youth services,
financial capability and inclusion and a social investment bank.
Devolved Administrations will determine their own priorities.
Protect consumers: affected consumers will have the right to claim
their money back at any time and have equivalent protection to
that currently held.
Better regulation: legislation will be enabling not compulsory for
financial institutions.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS BILL
The Government will take the historic step to raise the participation age to 18,
giving every young person the chance to stay on in education, training or work-
based learning. The Bill will also help us deliver our ambition of achieving world
class skills by 2020.
The Bill is central to the Government‟s mission that every young person fulfils
their potential. It will give young people and adults alike the opportunities and
skills they need to succeed in the globalised economy of the 21st century.
The Bill implements key measures outlined in the „Raising Expectations‟ Green
Paper and the Leitch Review of Skills.
What the Bill will do
Together with our reforms to 14-19 learning which will widen the choice of
learning routes available to young people – including the new Diploma
qualifications and a further expansion of apprenticeships – the Bill will enable us
to take the necessary steps to raise the participation age to 17 from 2013 and
18 from 2015. The first cohort of young people to be affected will start
secondary school next September.
There will be new rights and responsibilities for young people to participate in
some form of post-16 learning. This will be backed up by an enforcement
system focused on support and re-engagement. Sanctions will only be deployed
as a last resort and will be civil not criminal. In practice it would not be possible
for a young person to enter custody as a direct result of not participating in
education or training.
On raising the participation age, the key provisions will include:
A duty on young people to participate in education and training post-16. They
will be able to do so in a number of ways, including:
Full-time education, for example at school or college
Work-based learning, such as an apprenticeship
Part-time education or training, if they are employed, self-employed or
volunteering more than 20 hours a week.
A duty on parents to assist their children to participate.
Duties on employers to release young people for the equivalent of one day a
week to undertake training elsewhere (where the employer does not provide
their own training), and to check whether a young person is participating
before employing them.
A duty on local authorities to ensure that young people participate.
A duty on providers to inform the local authority if a young person drops out.
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A duty on local authorities to provide the support service currently known as
Connexions.
A duty and a power on local authorities to assess the education and training
needs of young people aged 16-19 with special educational needs.
On skills, the Bill will:
Strengthen individual rights to training for adults in basic literacy and numeracy
skills for first full level 2 qualifications.
Strengthen individual rights for young people aged 19 to 25 to achieve their first
full level 3 qualifications.
Make changes to the functions of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority,
enabling it to take a more strategic approach to the regulation of
qualifications and eligibility for funding.
The Bill will also make a number of small changes to consolidate and streamline
the regulation and monitoring of independent schools.
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EMPLOYMENT BILL
The Government is taking action to protect vulnerable workers and reduce
burdens on business.
There should be no hiding place for rogue employers who try to flout the
workplace standards that The Government has introduced since 1997. That is
why The Government is taking new steps to protect vulnerable workers by
increasing penalties for non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and
cracking down on abuses that can occur in the agency work sector.
The Government also recognise that the current statutory workplace grievance
procedure is too bureaucratic and burdensome for employers and employees
alike, so are replacing it with a new system that will enable more cases to be
resolved informally – saving time and money.
In addition, following the recent case where ASLEF was barred from expelling
someone who was a member of the British National Party, the bill will change
the law to allow trade unions to provide clearer rights for trade unions to
determine their membership.
What the bill will do
o Pave the way for replacement of the current statutory dispute resolution
procedures with a new non-regulatory system, as part of a wider
programme to help resolve disputes at an earlier stage and improve the
way employment tribunals work.
o Strengthen the enforcement framework for the NMW, specifically through
the introduction of a straightforward penalty that can be levied against all
non compliant businesses and a fairer method of calculating arrears for
underpaid workers.
o Enable more effective action against the small minority of rogue
employment agencies by allowing the most serious offences under the
Employment Agencies Act to be tried in a Crown Court – which carries the
possibility of an unlimited fine - and strengthening investigative powers.
Separately, the Government will shortly publish proposals to protect
vulnerable workers from abuses in the agency sector, such as unfair fees
and the practices of bogus talent agencies.
o Provide clearer rights for trade unions to determine their membership.
o A specific proposal to clarify the status of Cadet Force Adult Instructors
(CFAIs) as volunteers rather than workers.
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ENERGY BILL
Under The Government, Britain is rising to the challenge of tackling climate
change and ensuring the security of our energy supply in an insecure world.
Tackling climate change and ensuring the security of our energy supply means
Britain needs to enable greater use of renewable energy, cutting edge low
carbon technology such as Carbon Capture and Storage, and - depending on the
outcome of our consultation – allow the private sector the option of building new
nuclear power stations.
The Government must create the right conditions for investment and ensure the
market has access to diverse and increasingly low carbon investment options.
The Government also need to put in place appropriate protections for the
environment and the tax payer. The measures in this Bill will encourage a
diverse, secure supply of electricity while helping the UK make further progress
towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60% by 2050 relative to
1990 levels.
What the bill will do
The bill will strengthen the legal framework of our energy market to help ensure
clean, secure and affordable energy supplies. It will:
Allow Britain to strengthen the Renewables Obligation placed on electricity
suppliers, to drive greater and more rapid deployment of renewables in
the UK, by banding the obligation to allow different levels of support to be
given to different technologies, i.e. to give more support to offshore
technologies which are at an earlier stage of commercial development,
and creating a power to extend the obligation as and when the level of
overall renewables deployment requires it.
Enable private sector investment in a wider range of low carbon electricity
generation technologies – including carbon capture and storage which
will enable the capture of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel power
stations and its permanent storage under the seabed.
Create a licensing regime for the offshore importation and storage of gas
which will provide clarity and be consistent with other offshore licensing
regimes. This will encourage investment in the necessary infrastructure
to maintain reliable supplies as we become more dependent on imported
gas.
Should the Government decide that it is in the public interest to allow the
private sector to invest in new nuclear power stations alongside other low
carbon technologies, there will be provisions in the Bill to ensure that
potential developers of new nuclear power stations put in place adequate
funding to pay the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of
waste management costs. These measures will apply to the waste from
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and decommissioning of any new nuclear power stations and will
minimise the risk of these liabilities falling to the taxpayer.
Adjust the licensing regime to ensure that energy companies, or consortiums
of smaller companies, have a statutory responsibility for
decommissioning and associated costs for offshore oil, gas and
renewables infrastructure, and to ensure that funds put aside for these
purposes are protected from insolvency.
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EC FINANCE BILL
This short Bill provides backing in UK law for the new system of financing the
EU Budget agreed at the June 2007 meeting of the European Council.
The Bill reflects the consensus reached between the EU‟s members. It
provides the financial foundation for the future direction of the EU‟s
budget.
All member states are required to ratify the agreement by 31 December
2008.
What does the Bill do
The Bill amends the European Communities Act 1972 to take account of the
European Council‟s decision on the EU budget – known as the Own
Resources Decision (ORD).
The ORD details the system by which EU member states finance the annual EC
Budget. This includes changes to the UK abatement mechanism and to the
special arrangements also governing the budgetary contributions of Austria,
Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
By including the ORD in UK law, the government can make payments direct from
the Consolidated Fund
The abatement remains intact on all spending in the EU15;
It will be gradually disapplied to non-agricultural spending in the new Member
States;
The overall value of the abatement will be higher in this Financial Perspective
than the last.
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EU REFORM TREATY BILL
The Government is committed to ratifying the European Reform Treaty, which
the Government expects to be signed at the European Council on 13-14
December. The implementing Bill will then be introduced after the Council.
Parliament will have full opportunity to scrutinise the Treaty in detail.
It is a constitutional requirement that amendments / additions to UK legislation
be confirmed by a bill approved by parliament. The EU Reform Treaty Bill will
therefore bring the signed Reform Treaty into effect in UK law.
What the Bill will do
The Treaty will move the European debate on from the inward-looking
institutional questions, to focus on real issues that actually matter to the people
who live in the Member States.
The Treaty sets in place a series of sensible institutional changes to help make
an EU of 27 Member States work more effectively. This means it helps deliver:
- more continuity: it ends the 6-month President of the European Council
merry-go-round and replaces it with a full-time President of the European
Council, elected by EU Heads for two and a half years. This will help ensure
more coherence and strategic direction in the EU‟s policies;
- greater efficiency: there are already too many European Commissioners –
27, one for each Member State. The Treaty will cap this at two-thirds of the
number of Member States;
- fairness: a new voting system, known as Double Majority Voting, is more
closely based on population size. So it is more representative, and our share
of the vote increases;
- more democracy: national Parliaments get a direct say in EU decision-
making for the first time, and can challenge a proposal if one-third of them
object;
- effectiveness: while many of the 50 moves to QMV are in minor, procedural
areas, there are some shifts where the EU will be able to take decisions more
effectively in areas of priority to the UK – such as energy policy or
humanitarian aid. That must be in the UK‟s interest;
- more weight in the world: the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy gives the EU a more effective voice internationally. At the
moment this role sits messily between the Commission, the current High
Representative, and the rotating Presidency. But this change does not affect
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the ability of the UK to conduct its own foreign and defence policy – and
there is no question of us losing our UN seat;
- more transparency: the Charter of Fundamental Rights brings together in
one place, in plain words, the rights of citizens in the Member States. It does
not create new rights or take away existing ones. The rights will continue to
apply in the UK in exactly the same way they do now.
At the same time:
- Our tax and social security systems are protected,
- Our police and judicial systems are protected,
- Our labour and social legislation remain unchanged,
- Our independent foreign and defence policy is maintained.
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HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BILL
A Bill will be introduced to enhance professional regulation and create a new
integrated regulator (the Care Quality Commission) for health and adult social
care, which will focus on providing assurance of the safety and quality of care for
patients and service users.
The Bill will deliver the commitments that Ministers have made to introduce a
new regulator with tougher powers to deal with the safety and quality of care.
It will also deliver the Governments manifesto commitment „to strengthen
clinical governance and the regulation of the healthcare professions to ensure
professional activity is more accountable to the public‟.
What the bill will do
The main provisions of the Bill are to introduce:
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission will have a key role in tackling and
preventing Healthcare Associated Infections through annual infection
control inspections;
The new regulator will focus on safety and quality across health and adult
social care services, in both the NHS and the independent sector;
It will play an important role in supporting patient choice, through
providing information on the performance of providers of adult social care
and health care;
The Care Quality Commission will have new powers requiring providers of
health services and adult social care to register with the Commission;
The Regulator will have tougher powers, backed by fines, to inspect,
investigate and intervene where hospitals are failing to meet hygiene
requirements and play a key role in tackling and preventing Healthcare
associated infections (HCAI‟s).
The new regulator will be formed by bringing together the experience and
expertise of Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care
Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission.
Professional Regulation
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Following the inquiry into the case of Harold Shipman and the manifesto
commitment to strengthen clinical governance, there will be reform of the
system of professional regulation to ensure it earns and sustains the
confidence of patients, professionals and Parliament
Health in pregnancy Grant
This will implement the 2006 pre-Budget Report commitment to extend
financial support to expectants mothers in the final weeks of pregnancy
by creating a health in pregnancy grant.
This measure aims to help all expectant mothers with the costs of a
healthy diet and lifestyle in the later stages of pregnancy. Supported by
maternal health advice from a health professional, it is designed to
support the expectant mother‟s individual health needs during the
pregnancy.
Health protection
To provide an updated and comprehensive set of public health measures
to help prevent or control the spread of large-scale infection or
contamination, which presents or could present significant harm to
human health.
The Bill also contains a number of other measures, which will improve health
and social care. These measures include:
Create powers for the Secretary of State to fund social enterprises;
Introduce powers to weigh and measure pupils, and in particular provide
feedback to parents as part of the National Child Measurement
Programme.
abolish the National Biological Standards Board and transfers its
functions to the Health Protection Agency
Devolution
The Bill contains measures that deal with reserved and devolved Matters. The
Bill extends to England and Wales and certain issues extend to the UK.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
HOUSING AND REGENERATION BILL
The Government is the only party which is delivering more affordable, decent
homes for first time buyers and families, and giving tenants a stronger voice.
Housing is one of our top priorities. The Government believes that everyone
deserves a place they can be proud to call home, at a price they can afford. The
recent Housing Green Paper set out our plans to deliver 3 million new homes by
2020. At the same time the Government announced £8bn for affordable
housing which will deliver 70,000 affordable homes a year by 2010, of which
45,000 will be social housing. The Bill is the next step in delivering sustainable
homes and communities for future generations.
Our plans for more new and affordable homes are underpinned by our
commitment to improving the level of service that social tenants receive. The
Bill will reform social housing regulation, placing tenants at the heart of social
housing.
What the bill will do
Delivering on the Housing Green Paper – more and greener homes, in mixed and
sustainable communities
Establish the new Homes and Communities Agency, which will focus on
delivering more new and affordable homes across all tenures, in mixed
and sustainable communities, and drive and invest in regeneration.
The agency will deliver decent communities, not just bricks and mortar,
investing in infrastructure and making better use of surplus public sector
land.
Empowering tenants and communities
Establish the new social housing regulator (the Office for Tenants and
Social Landlords) - giving tenants more choice and a stronger voice over
how their homes are managed.
The Homes and Communities Agency will also be able to fund community
empowerment work and provide employment and training opportunities,
support, information and advice.
Improving housing services
Responding to an ECHR ruling on security of tenure on local authority
Gypsy and Traveller sites
Other detailed measures to improve housing services
Territorial extent
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
The Bill extends to England and Wales only, save for some consequential
matters which may extend to Scotland also. The Homes and Communities
Agency and the Office for Social Landlords apply only to England.
HUMAN FERTILISATION & EMBRYOLOGY BILL
The Government will introduce a Bill to ensure that legitimate medical and
scientific uses of human reproductive technologies continue to flourish, and
maintain the UK‟s position as a world leader in ground-breaking research. The
Bill will update the regulation of assisted reproduction, ensuring it is fit for
purpose in the 21st century and fully reflective of modern society.
The UK is a world leader in reproductive technologies, however the law and
regulation need to remain fit for purpose in the light of developments in
technology and society‟s attitudes.
The Bill is the outcome of the Government‟s review of the law on assisted
reproduction and embryo research (announced in January 2004), which included
a public consultation in 2005.
The Government has carefully considered a full range of viewpoints, suggestions
and proposals. The Bill was considered in draft form (then titled Human Tissue
& Embryos Bill) by a joint committee of MPs and Peers, who reported on 1
August. The Government accepted the committee‟s primary recommendations.
What the bill will do
The main provisions of the Bill are:
ensuring that all human embryos outside the body – whatever the
process used in their creation - are subject to regulation.
regulation of “inter-species” embryos created from a combination of
human and animal genetic material for research.
a ban on sex selection of offspring for non-medical reasons.
retention of a duty to take account of the welfare of the child in providing
fertility treatment, but removal of the reference to “the need for a father”.
recognising same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived
through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos.
altering the restrictions on the use of HFEA-collected data to make it
easier to do follow-up research.
increasing the scope of legitimate embryo research activities, subject to
controls.
The Government has concluded that the basic foundations of the current law
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
[the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 1990] remain sound, and provide an
effective model of regulation.
The Government propose retaining the principle of active monitoring and
regulation by an independent body, based on a scheme of licensing, and
ultimately backed by criminal penalties.
The Government has also consistently made clear that it does not intend to
remove the firmly established ban on human reproductive cloning, or to reverse
the removal of donor anonymity.
Devolution
The Bill will apply to the whole of the UK.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
LOCAL TRANSPORT BILL
This is an enabling Bill which will devolve powers to local authorities who
understand local transport needs best. By tackling congestion and improving
bus services the Government can help to promote the economic vitality of our
towns and cities.
It will give local authorities greater local freedom and choice - with increased
flexibility and powers to deliver better bus services and a more integrated
transport system tailored to local needs.
The Government want to give local authorities greater flexibility to implement
measures that improve public transport and tackle congestion.
This Bill will allow for more responsive local bus services and better punctuality.
Congestion has a negative impact on the economy, the environment and on
people's quality of life. Congestion is predicted to increase by over 25% by 2015
- 80% of that would be in our major towns and cities.
Our strategy for tackling congestion is based on sustained investment, adding
road capacity where appropriate and making the most of the existing network.
This Bill, originally published in draft, was extensively consulted on and changes
were made to reflect the results of that consultation. It was also subject to
Parliamentary pre-legislative scrutiny by the House of Commons Transport
Committee. The consultation response will be published at the same time as
the Bill.
What the bill will do
Buses
• enable local authorities to deliver locally tailored bus services and
promote more effective partnership between local authorities and bus
operators;
• allow greater flexibility to implement 'quality contracts' schemes in areas
where local authorities need to take greater control over bus services in
the interests of the public;
• provide a new regime to deliver better punctuality, for the first time
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
holding local authorities as well as bus operators to account for their
contribution to punctuality performance; and
• support further development of the community transport sector.
Protect employees
• The Government intend to provide greater certainty that provisions
contained in the TUPE regulations will apply where the award of a quality
contract results in staff transferring from one operator to another.
Governance and Integrated Transport Authorities
• enable changes to the boundaries of existing Passenger Transport
Authority (PTA) areas, for example to reflect changing patterns of travel,
for example, to cover travel to work areas.
• The Bill renames PTAs as Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs) and
enables the establishment of new ITAs.
• Places a responsibility on ITAs in our major urban areas outside London
to prepare a Local Transport Plan with their strategies for improving
transport in their area - including public transport, roads and freight - and
a plan for implementing them.
• apply a new duty on local transport authorities in England to have regard
to government policies and guidance on the environment; and
• extend to ITAs the “well-being" power which local authorities already
enjoy under the Local Government Act 2000.
Local road user charging
• local authorities in England can already develop local road user charging
schemes, under the Transport Act 2000, which are best suited to local
needs, and as a consequence of this Bill will not need approval from the
Secretary of State to do so.
• ensure that any schemes are consistent and interoperable, so as to avoid
unnecessary costs and complexity for road users who may wish to use
more than one scheme.
• Any money raised from such schemes will have to be used to improve
local transport for the lifetime of the scheme.
• Any decision on a national road pricing scheme will be for the future,
informed by the development of local schemes, including London, and
clear answers to the technological and systems challenges. Further
primary legislation would be needed for this, and there would naturally be
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
a full debate.
Passenger champion
The Government will consult on how to provide an influential voice for the
bus passenger, through the creation of a body with a statutory remit.
Traffic commissioners
The Bill places the role of senior traffic commissioner (STC) on a statutory
footing.
The STC would have powers to issue guidance and general directions to the
individual traffic commissioners.
The TCs will have a stronger role in monitoring bus punctuality and gives
them a broader range of sanctions they can impose on operators who are
demonstrably failing to deliver a punctual service. A key development is
that the Bill will enable the TCs to hold local authorities, as well as bus
operators, to account for their contribution to punctuality performance (eg
through poor traffic management). The TCs will, for example, be able to
require Las to provide information and attend inquiries into poor
punctuality.
Quality contract schemes in England will be approved by an approvals board,
chaired by a Traffic Commissioner.
Framework power
In response to a request from the Welsh Assembly Government's Deputy
First Minister, the Bill devolves a new "framework power" to the National
Assembly for Wales, under which the Assembly would be able to specify
circumstances where pricing schemes could be implemented on parts of
the Welsh trunk road network, in addition to those limited circumstances
already specified in Part 3 of the Transport Act 2000.
No equivalent change is proposed in relation to trunk roads in England,
where the existing restrictions in the Transport Act 2000 would remain in
place.
Territorial extent
All provision in the Bill will extend to England and Wales. Some will also extend
to Scotland, but only insofar as they relate to matters that are reserved within
the meaning of the Scotland Act 1998. A very small number of provisions will
extend to Northern Ireland.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS BILL
In the last Budget the former Chancellor announced a package of reforms to
modernise the tax and benefit system.
The package included changes to simplify National Insurance Contributions by
aligning the Upper Earnings Limit (for employees) and the Upper Profits Limit
(for small businesses), with the level at which higher rate income tax becomes
payable from 2009/10.
Introduction of the Upper Accrual Point in April 2009 to ensure that the
Government‟s reforms to State Second Pension introduced in the Pensions Act
2007 can be delivered as planned.
What the Bill will do
The Bill will help to reform the State Second Pension so that it becomes a
simple, flat rate weekly top up to the Basic State Pension by around 2030.
It therefore helps to implement a key recommendation of the Pensions
Commission, chaired by Lord Turner, which said the Government should
"accelerate the evolution of the S2P to a flat-rate system by freezing in nominal
cash terms the Upper Earnings Limit for S2P accruals" and, under the
accelerated option favoured by the Commission, that "earnings-related accruals
within S2P would cease in around 2030".
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
PARTY FINANCE AND EXPENDITURE
The Government will bring forward proposals on the regulation of party finance
and expenditure.
In March 2006 Sir Hayden Phillips was asked by the then Prime Minister to
undertake a review of the funding of political parties. Sir Hayden published his
final report in March 2007, which set out the broad principles for a reformed
system of party finance and expenditure, and was subsequently asked to chair
inter-party talks with the aim of securing broad consensus around the
practicalities of a new system.
Unfortunately, those talks were suspended after David Cameron‟s Conservative
party proved unwilling to negotiate on a fair settlement. However, the
suspension of Sir Hayden Phillips‟ talks should not be an excuse for inaction.
The absence of a cross-party consensus on donation caps and state funding, two
sides of the same coin, makes it difficult to proceed with reform in those areas.
However, there is clearly a powerful case for immediate action to reverse the
political spending arms race. Sir Hayden has shown that the two main parties
spent £90 million in the 12 months leading up to the 2005 general election, as
against £65 million in the same period before the 2001 election (even though
official cap for the two main parties combined was approximately £40 million).
That is evidence of a spending “arms race” which is damaging British politics.
The Government had sought, with all-party support, to end the spending arms
race with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) in 2000.
But developments in political campaigning and a loophole in the Act concerning
local spending outside the official election period have undermined the
effectiveness of that legislation.
There is clearly a need to make existing legislation governing spending limits
more effective.
There is also a need to examine whether the structures that exist to regulate and
monitor party finance and expenditure are adequate to the task. In particular,
there is a need to assess whether the Electoral Commission has the necessary
powers, capacity and practical experience to serve as an effective and respected
regulator of political parties‟ finances. The recent report of the Committee on
Standards in Public Life, which the Government will respond to very shortly,
contains important recommendations in this regard.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
PENSIONS BILL
The Government is committed to building a new pensions settlement that will
last for future generations, tackling the problem of under-saving for retirement
by extending occupational pension provision to those who do not currently
benefit from it.
Together with the reforms in the Pension Act 2007, the Pensions Bill shows that
the Government is building a pensions system which meets the challenge of an
ageing society.
The Government established the Pensions Commission to examine how the
UK pensions system could be reformed to tackle the problem of under-saving
and to meet the long term challenge of an ageing society.
Approximately 7 million people are currently not saving enough.
Only 40 per cent of those of working age who have not yet retired are saving
in a private pension – yet 80 per cent say they will need more than the State
Pension to live on.
The problem of under-saving is particularly acute among low to moderate
earners who are not currently well-served by the current pensions market.
The Pensions Commission recommended the establishment of a new, low-
cost occupational pension scheme to provide access to pensions saving for
those whose employers do not currently offer it.
Research shows clearly that people are significantly more likely to participate
in pension schemes if they are enrolled automatically.
In one case study, the proportion of auto-enrolled employees participating in
a savings scheme was 30% higher than among those enrolling voluntarily,
even after four years.
The reforms in the Pensions Bill will lead to between 4 and 7 million new
savers in workplace pension schemes. 1.5 million existing savers will gain
from higher employer contributions. And the Government will narrow further
the pensions gap among women, with up to 3 million more women saving in
a pension.
There is a broad consensus in favour of pensions reform, and the
Government will seek to ensure that the new pensions settlement proceeds
on the basis of consensus.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
What the bill will do
The Pensions Bill will place a duty on employers to automatically enrol
workers into a pension scheme – tackling inertia and other behavioural
barriers to saving. To qualify, the scheme will have to meet required
standards.
Workers will have the option to opt out – recognising that there will be some
individuals for whom saving in a pension may not be the most appropriate
choice at certain points in their life.
Contributions will be rooted in shared responsibility – 4% from individuals,
3% from employers and 1% tax relief from the Government.
The Bill will enable us to establish a Personal Accounts scheme for those
employers without a qualifying occupational pension scheme.
The Government will establish a compliance and enforcement system that
avoids unnecessary burdens on the vast majority of good employers, but
which cracks down on those who do not comply.
The Bill will further simplify the state pension system and will make changes
to the regulatory framework for occupational pensions. It will also introduce a
number of other measures to bring pensions legislation up to date with
recent developments.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
PLANNING REFORM BILL
The Planning Reform Bill will modernise and improve the efficiency of the
planning system, while increasing its transparency and the opportunities for the
public and parliament to be involved in the planning process.
In consultation with the public and parliament, the Government will establish
national priorities for major infrastructure projects such as airports, power
stations, and renewable energy. The Government will speed up planning
decisions in the national interest by cutting bureaucracy and red tape. This will
help our economy grow, and ensure every region shares in rising opportunity and
prosperity.
The Government takes long-term decisions in the strategic interests of the
country, based on our understanding of Britain‟s future transport, energy,
environmental and economic needs. Britain‟s planning system is over-
complicated, bureaucratic, and cumbersome. The Government risk unnecessary
delays to major decisions, for example on renewable energy, which hold our
economy back and hamper our action on climate change. In a fast-changing
world, The Government believes it is time to streamline the planning system to
meet Britain‟s needs.
What the bill will do
allow Ministers to draft strategic national policy statements in
consultation with the public and parliament, for example on renewable
energy, waste, or airports and give these statements primary status when
considering applications;
establish a single, streamlined „consent regime‟ for major nationally-
important projects;
establish an independent „infrastructure planning commission‟ (IPC) to
then take actual planning decisions;
allow Ministers to „call-in‟ decisions if the policy framework has become
outdated;
introduce statutory requirements to consult with local people and local
authorities at every stage, bringing local people into the heart of the
planning process for the first time;
give councils a greater role in shaping and strengthening their
communities by devolving power to councils to decide appeals on smaller
planning applications.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT & SANCTIONS BILL
The Government is helping businesses stay competitive in the global economy
by taking radical measures to reduce red tape from regulators and local
inspectors.
The Government committing to lighten the load on British businesses by
removing obsolete and inefficient regulations placed upon them. The
Government is taking radical measures to reduce red tape on business as it
seeks to cut £3.5 billion (25 per cent) from the administrative burdens on
businesses and voluntary organisations by 2010.
A major concern of businesses across the country is the burdens placed on them
by local and national inspectors whose approach can be too bureaucratic. This
bill tackles that problem by ensuring our risk-based approach to regulation is
passed down to local level, and by placing an explicit duty on all regulators not to
impose unnecessary burdens on business.
What the bill will do
Reduce unnecessary burdens from local authority inspectors by promoting
effective and risk-based enforcement by trading standards and
environmental health services;
Enable regulators to access a set of alternative administrative sanctions that
complement existing criminal sanctions and aim for better regulatory
compliance by business;
Place an explicit new duty on regulators to ensure they are not imposing
unnecessary burdens on business.
To establish the Local Better Regulation Office as a statutory corporation
and to confer on it five key functions:
o Issuing guidance to local authorities;
o Supporting best practice by local authorities;
o Giving advice to Ministers;
o Reviewing and updating the Government‟s list of national
regulatory priorities; and
o Promoting consistent regulatory enforcement by local authorities.
Deliver four of the recommendations of the Macrory Review by providing
for expanded regulatory sanctioning powers.
Provide a power to require regulators not to impose or maintain
unnecessary burdens.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
SALE OF STUDENT LOAN BILL
The Government is building on its outstanding record of managing a strong and
stable economy which is competitive in an increasingly globalised world. By
selling the student loans portfolio, the Government will raise significant funds for
the government.
The Government is committed to maintaining a strong and stable economy,
which enables Britain to be fairer and more prosperous. There is an ongoing
strategy to transfer ownership of all public assets that are not essential to the
government‟s public service delivery objectives.
The proposed sales programme is expected to realise around £6bn in receipts by
the end of 2010/11, which will be reflected in the national accounts. All
transactions will include a genuine transfer of risk to the private sector and will
only proceed if they represent good value for money.
The sales will make no difference to the terms and conditions, or customer
service for individual borrowers: the government will retain control of all loan
arrangements and regulations. These will apply to all individuals with loans,
whether their loan is in the public or private sector.
What the bill will do
The Sale of Student Loans Bill will:
Enable a programme of sales of the government‟s student loans portfolio
Ensure that customers whose loans are held in the private sector have
the same terms and conditions as those whose are held in the public
sector, and ensure that the customer experience will be identical.
Ensure strict controls govern the use and disclosure of personal
information held by purchasers of the loans and introduce a criminal
sanction for the disclosure of HMRC information (disclosure of other
personal information is already covered in existing legislation).
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
DRAFT LEGISLATION & OTHER KEY ISSUES
WORK-FAMILY BALANCE: FLEXIBLE WORKING
Helping parents - and carers - remain within the workforce through better
balancing their work and home commitments is good for families and business.
The Government has always been, and remains, the champion of hard working
families.
The Government has introduced many practical measures to support families,
including providing working families with up to 80% of their childcare costs
through the tax credit system. Since 1997, The Government has more than
doubled the level of maternity pay, and in 2003 introduced paid paternity leave.
Fathers will soon have a new right to take up to 26 weeks Additional Paternity
Leave before their child's first birthday, to allow mothers to return to work
earlier. In an increasingly competitive economy and a tight labour market,
businesses report that flexible working enables them to maintain morale and
commitment and retain experienced staff.
The Government introduced the right to request flexible working in 2003 for
parents of children under the age of 6 (or 18 in the case of a disabled child). The
scope was extended to include carers of adults from April 2007, giving it to an
additional 2.65 million employees.
The right to request flexible working has helped millions of parents maintain a
healthy balance between work and family and has also benefited business.
5.4 million employees now have a flexible working arrangement, including
working from home so they can care for their family, working part time,
compressed hours, flexi-time or other arrangements agreed with their employer.
New figures released today show that 91% of workplaces who received requests
in the last year approved all requests, that employers largely have positive views
about promoting work-life balance and more and more managers are actively
promoting flexible work practices.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
But as all parents know, older children can be just as demanding which is the
Prime Minister today announced further measures to help working parents
achieve a better work life balance in the Queen‟s Speech.
Supporting families, particularly as they bring up children and care for older
relatives, is also one of the priorities for the Ministers for Women.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has
commissioned Sainsbury‟s Human Resources Director Imelda Walsh to lead an
independent review to determine how the current right to request flexible
working can be extended to parents of older children.
The review will consider how the current right to request might be
extended to parents of older children and the upper age limit of a child
which should apply. The review will involve business representatives,
unions, parents groups and other interested parties in considering the
options for change.
The reviewer will make its recommendations in spring 2008.
Imelda Walsh is HR Director of Sainsbury and has considerable experience of HR
issues. She has a varied background having worked for Barclays, Coca-Cola and
Schweppes Beverages.
Key facts
Over 6 million employees have the right to request flexible working
(3.6m parents with young and disabled children and 2.65 m carers
of adults).
56% of employees (14 million employees) work flexibly, or have done so
within the last 12 months.
47% of new mothers work flex-time compared to just 17% in 2002,
and almost triple the number of new fathers now work flexibly.
The proportion of new mothers who have changed their employer
when returning to work has halved from 41% in 2002 to 20%.
The Second Work Life Balance Survey of employers (DTI, 2003)
found that 94 per cent of employers thought people work best
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
when they can strike a better balance between work and the rest of
their lives); and 75 per cent of managers said there were minimal
or no costs involved in introducing family friendly working practices.
The Workplace Employment Relations Survey in 2004 found 60 per
cent of employers reported some or a significant improvement in
staff retention and 58 per cent of employers reported some or a
significant improvement in productivity.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007:
DRAFT BILLS
CONSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL BILL [Draft]
The Government is working to strengthen the relationship between citizens,
society and the state by entrusting Parliament and the people with more power.
In July 2007 the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary published a green
paper on the Governance of Britain, which is intended to serve as the route map
towards a new constitutional settlement. The Governance of Britain programme
builds upon the major developments of the past ten years. In that time The
Government has implemented historic constitutional reforms including:
devolution for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; a democratically elected
London Mayor and Greater London Assembly; a substantially reformed House of
Lords; the Human Rights Act; the Freedom of Information Act; and an
independent Bank of England.
Those structural changes amount to a quiet constitutional revolution, but one
that is not yet complete. The Government is embarking on a further phase of
constitutional renewal aimed at forging a new and stronger relationship between
government and citizen, by transferring executive powers to Parliament and by
making government and Parliament more accountable to the people.
The Constitutional Renewal Bill, which will be published in draft next year, is a
central part of the Governance of Britain programme. It is fundamentally about
breaking up old concentrations of executive power. It is central to The
Government‟s goal of creating a new style of open democracy, fit for the 21 st
century.
What the bill will do
The full scope of the Constitutional Renewal Bill will be determined by the
outcome of the reviews and public consultations which the Government has
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
recently initiated or will be publishing shortly. Depending on the views expressed,
some of the issues that are consulting on could be resolved without the need for
legislation. However, if the result of consultation is that legislation is widely
required, then the Bill could eventually include measures to:
Place the Civil Service on a statutory footing
Transfer of Royal Prerogative powers to Parliament on the deployment of
Armed Forces abroad and the ratification of Treaties
Change the rules governing protests in Parliament Square
Change rules on the remissions of sentences and pardons for convictions
Reform judicial appointments
Reform the role of the Attorney General
Create powers for parliamentary scrutiny of public appointments
Introduce weekend voting
Change the governance of the National Audit Office
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
HERITAGE PROTECTION BILL (CULTURAL
PROPERTY (ARMED CONFLICT) BILL [Draft])
The Heritage Protection Bill will put in place a unified heritage protection system
that is easier to understand and to use and it will also ratify the 1954 Hague
Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The Government is delivering on its 2005 Manifesto commitment to legislate to
implement the findings of the DCMS heritage Protection Review.
The Heritage Protection Bill will put in place a unified heritage protection
system that is easier to understand and to use. This system will be more
efficient, more accountable and more transparent, and will maximise
opportunities for public inclusion and involvement.
The Bill will also ratify the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. The Convention and its
Protocols provide for a system of general and enhanced protection of
cultural property in situations of international and non-international
armed conflict.
This Bill represents the most comprehensive modernisation of the heritage
protection system seen in this country for many years.
Measures which are likely
deregulate and simplify the heritage protection system.
To enable English Heritage (on behalf of the Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport) to develop and manage those parts of the
House and grounds that were formally a convalescent home for the
benefit of members of the armed forces and civil service.
Enable the UK to ratify, and to implement:
(a) the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the
Event of Armed Conflict (the Convention - which the UK signed at
The Hague on 14 May 1954); and
(b) the Convention’s two supplementary Protocols, of 1954 and
1999 respectively (the Protocols - which the UK has not yet signed).
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION BILL [Draft]
The Government is determined to simplify and streamline immigration
legislation, replacing existing laws in this area with a clear, consistent and
coherent legal framework for the control of our borders and the management of
migration.
The Government is making sweeping changes to Britain's migration system. In
the next few months, the Points Based System will simplify the rules to make
sure that only those Britain really needs can come here to work or study.
Building on these developments, provisions in this draft Bill will deliver greater
transparency and efficiency in the operation of our immigration services – for
agency staff, applicants, stakeholders and the wider public. Our aim is a more
user-friendly and streamlined system, within which it is quicker and easier to
make appropriate decisions.
The Bill will also take forward any recommendations emerging from the
Goldsmith Review of Citizenship that require primary legislation.
What the bill will do
Measures likely to be included in the draft Bill will deliver:
An essential overarching immigration provision, set out in a single focused
piece of primary legislation, replacing existing laws.
The framework for shorter, sharper and more consistent immigration rules,
capable of quick adjustment in response to changing circumstances.
Greater transparency and speed in the operation of the migration system,
with increased clarity for applicants and sponsors.
Territorial extent
UK. The proposals will generally concern reserved matters, and their impact on
devolved administrations will be explored further as they are developed.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
MARINE BILL [Draft]
This draft Bill is an international first – a major piece of legislation which will
introduce a new framework for the seas, based on marine spatial planning, that
balances conservation, energy and resource needs. No other country has
attempted such a strategic approach to the enormously complex issue of
managing the marine environment based on principles of sustainable
development and better regulation.
The current arrangements in place for managing marine activities and protecting
marine wildlife and the marine environment are complex and can be confusing
and costly for all involved. New activities, changes in technology and a
deepening understanding of the seas around us and the way we affect them
have also exposed some gaps and limitations in this system. A number of
published reports and reviews have shown that as the pressures on our seas
increase and change we do not have all the tools we need to fully protect our
marine environment or manage the full range of demands that we place on the
marine area.
What the Bill will do
• Set up a new UK-wide system of marine planning, consistent with
devolved responsibilities
• Establish a streamlined, transparent and consistent system for licensing
marine developments, including offshore wind farms
• Institute a new mechanism to protect marine biodiversity, through the
creation of Marine Conservation Zones
• Improve the management of marine fisheries in England
• Create a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to join up our
approach to the marine environment
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
MARINE NAVIGATION AND PORT SAFETY BILL
[Draft]
The Government is committed to ensuring a safe and thriving global shipping
industry which it sees as vital to the UK economy
As an island nation, a safe and thriving global shipping industry is vital to our
economy. Our domestic shipping and ports activities and strong global
maritime influence help to protect the UK's interest in this area by promoting
a competitive, safe, efficient and sustainable environment for this trade to
take place.
The UK port industry is the largest in Europe for freight. Around 95% of our
trade by volume is transported by sea. In 2006 around 440 million tonnes of
international freight and 140 million tonnes of domestic freight moved
through UK ports. Thirty-two million international passengers use UK ports
each year. Another 38 million people use them for domestic journeys. Our
national economy needs a thriving ports industry.
The Draft Bill aims to increase the already high safety standards for those
working in or travelling through our ports and waters.
Current plans are to publish a draft Bill and a consultation document for all
stakeholders in 3rd session by Easter 2008.
What the bill will do
The Draft Bill will include measures to:
clarify and enhance the existing statutory framework for harbour
authorities managing port safety matters and update the rules for marine
pilots;
give the general lighthouse authorities the powers they need to operate a
modern lighthouse service including funding of pensions; and
allow safer navigation in our waters by ratifying the international Wreck
Removal Convention, permitting the UK to claim back costs associated
with the marking, locating and removal of wrecks.
Territorial extent
The Bill applies to the United Kingdom. All the relevant powers relate to
reserved matters and consultation with the devolved administrations is in
progress.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
APPRENTICESHIP REFORM BILL [Draft]
Purpose of legislation:
The Government proposes bringing forward legislation in the to reform
apprenticeships.
The Government has successfully revived apprenticeships in the last year from
their near extinction in the 1980s. This has been achieved largely without the
need for legislation. However, the Government wants to go further so that even
more young people and adults can benefit from the programme. In particular,
introducing an entitlement to an apprenticeship for 16-18 year olds. Therefore it
is now being considered what legislative powers are needed to regulate or
promote apprenticeships in the future.
Background:
A review of the apprenticeship programme is currently underway. It is
considering the scope for reforms to the programme and the need for any
legislative changes. The review is due for completion in January 2008.
However, in general the Legislation would be expected to cover the leadership of
the apprenticeship programme and the rights and responsibilities of those
involved, apprentices, employers, training providers and statutory bodies.
Specifically it is likely to cover all or part of the following:
a statutory definition of apprenticeships including arrangements for
determining content of apprenticeship frameworks
a duty on the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to provide apprenticeship
places
a duty to facilitate entry to apprenticeship programmes through for example
a national matching service
a right to public funding for apprenticeship programmes
a duty to promote apprenticeships on a range of public organisations
a duty to promote quality in apprenticeship through, for example,
strengthened inspection arrangements
recognition of completed apprenticeships through, for example, license to
practise arrangements
duty on public bodies to offer apprenticeships
amendment to minimum wage regulations on the current apprenticeship
exemptions
Additional background information:
Since 1997 the number of apprentices has increased from 75,000 to
250,000 in 2007. Over 130,000 employers are offering
apprenticeship places in over 180 different types of business from
construction to IT.
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QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
Quality is improving. Apprenticeship completion rates have improved
from 24% in 2001/02 to 62% so far in 2006/07 and the trend is
for the improvement to continue. Over 100,000 complete their full
apprenticeship programme each year, up from 40,000 in
2002/03.
The Government wants to go further, and make more apprenticeships
available to both young people and adults.
By 2013, an entitlement will be introduced to an apprenticeship place
for all school-leavers who meet the entry criteria. Meaning every
young person leaving school who wants to continue their learning
in a work-based environment can do so.
By 2020 there is a commitment to delivering our share of 500,000 UK
apprenticeships, (400,000 in England).
To deliver this stretching ambition for expansion, the Government
needs to dramatically increase employer awareness and
appreciation of the value of apprenticeships and significantly
increase the number of employers engaged.
There is work ongoing with partners to broaden apprenticeship choice
as part of the equality and diversity agenda and develop a new
national strategy on equality and diversity in apprenticeships to
improve participation and success levels for under-represented
groups.
50
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007:
CARRY OVER BILLS
Three Bills have been carried over from the 2006/07 session.
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Crossrail Bill
51
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
CHILD MAINTENANCE AND OTHER PAYMENTS
BILL
The Government is replacing the Child Support Agency with a new Child
Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) and a new child
maintenance system. The new system will drive down child poverty by:
- Maximising the number of children for whom effective
maintenance arrangements are in place
- Providing C-MEC with tough new enforcement powers to force non-
resident parents to support their children
In a linked measure the Government will also allow more of the money paid to
parents on benefit to be kept by them as a result of increased disregard
(increased to £20 pw from 2008 and £40 pw in 2010 (This is not in the Bill)
The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill has been carried over from the
last session of Parliament.
The child maintenance system has failed to live up to its expectations. The
system has never recovered from its poor start and the Child Support Agency
has lost the confidence of many parents with care and non-resident parents.
Despite recent improvements in the CSA performance, there are still too
many cases in which effective maintenance arrangements are not in place.
A comprehensive redesign in 2006 by Sir David Henshaw set out what the
Government needs to do to reform the system, and the Government has
accepted the vast majority of his recommendations
The interests of children must always be paramount. This Bill puts children
first by maximising the number of children for whom effective child
maintenance arrangements are in place.
The Bill promotes parental responsibility by removing the barriers that
prevent parents from reaching their own voluntary agreements – removing
compulsion for parents with care receiving benefits under the current
arrangements.
52
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
What the bill will do
The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill will establish a new non-
departmental public body, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement
Commission (C-MEC) to replace the CSA.
The Bill will establish more streamlined and transparent child maintenance
arrangements, which will empower and enable parents to make their own
maintenance arrangements, providing greater incentives to comply.
Where parents can not come to an individual arrangement, the reforms will
provide more effective processes for assessing, collecting and enforcing
maintenance meaning that more money will flow to more children.
The requirement that parents with care claiming benefits be treated as
having applied for child maintenance will be abolished.
C-MEC will provide an information and support service to enable all parents to
take on their own responsibility where it is appropriate and effective.
There will be a simplified assessment process where parents cannot make
their own arrangements backed up by tougher enforcement powers if they
break down.
In addition to the provisions on child maintenance, the Bill will provide up-
front financial support to people suffering from mesothelioma, who are not
currently eligible for help under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers‟
Compensation) Act 1979.
The aim is to ensure that, wherever possible, sufferers of mesothelioma can
receive compensation whilst they themselves can still benefit from it, and
allow them if they choose, to help provide for their families.
53
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND IMMIGRATION BILL
The Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour, cut crime and ensure
that the criminal justice system is firmly on the side of the law abiding citizen.
The bill is a carry-over bill from the last Parliamentary session. It implements a
number of measures in „Rebalancing the criminal justice system in favour of the law
abiding majority‟, published in July 2006.
What the bill will do
Violent Offender Orders will allow courts to impose post-sentence restrictions
on those convicted of violent offences e.g. residence or movement
restrictions
Extension of existing crack house closure powers to tackle premises at the
centre of serious and persistent disorder or nuisance, regardless of tenure
New powers to deal with nuisance or disturbance on NHS premises
Creation of the Youth Rehabilitation Order – a community sentence for
children and young offenders
Removing the power to impose Suspended Sentence Orders for summary
only offences
Ending automatic sentence discounts for offenders re-sentenced to an
indeterminate sentence after initial sentencing decision ruled unduly
lenient
Powers for Courts to make dangerous offenders given a discretionary life
sentence serve a higher proportion of their tariff before eligible for parole
consideration
Providing for non-dangerous offenders who breach the terms of their licence
to be recalled to prison for a fixed 28 day period
Changes to the early removal scheme to increase take up by foreign national
prisoners
Placing the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman on a statutory footing;
Creation of the Youth Conditional Caution for young offenders aged 16 and
17
Creating a presumption that trials in magistrates‟ courts will proceed in the
absence of the accused
Bringing compensation for the wrongly convicted broadly into line with that
for victims of crime
New offence of possession of extreme pornography
New referral order to promote the rehabilitation of those involved in
prostitution and abolition of the term „common prostitute‟
Increase in the penalty for misuse of personal data
Mutual recognition of financial penalties within the European Union
A new special immigration status for terrorists and serious criminals who
cannot currently be removed from the UK for legal reasons
Measures which would mean that the Court of Appeal is not obliged to quash
54
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
convictions where there is no doubt as to an appellant‟s guilt
As well as the proposals already in the bill, the Government is also introducing
amendments to:
extend the offence of incitement to racial hatred to cover hatred against people
on the basis of their sexual orientation
ensure that people who act proportionately in defending themselves, others and
their property are treated with respect by the justice system.
strengthen protection of vulnerable children by placing the police, probation
and prison services (working together as part of the Multi-Agency Public
Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)) under a positive duty to consider the
disclosure of information about convicted sex offenders to members of
the public in all cases.
004/05 2005/06 % change
55
QUEEN‟S SPEECH 2007
CROSSRAIL BILL
The Government‟s decision to give Crossrail the green light through a £16bn
funding deal will support Britain's economic growth and maintain our position as
a leading world economy. It will generate an additional 30,000 jobs and help
London retain its position as the world's pre-eminent financial centre. And it will
support regeneration by delivering quicker journeys from some of the most
economically disadvantaged parts of the city to the most economically
important.
This Bill will ensure Government has all the powers necessary to enable the
construction, maintenance and operation of Crossrail, a new east-west
railway linking Maidenhead and Heathrow with Shenfield and Abbey Wood
through new tunnels under central London.
What the bill will do
Key provisions:
Outline planning permission (10 year time limited) and a bespoke planning
regime;
Compulsory purchase powers (5 year time limited);
Powers to set aside or amend railways regulation in order to provide Crossrail
services on the main network.
Power to nominate an undertaker of the works;
Power to devolve the project to the Mayor of London.
Work on the £16bn project will begin in earnest in 2010 and the first trains are
expected to run in 2017. It will be Europe's largest civil engineering project and
will provide London with a world class railway that supports its growth as a
world-leading finance centre. It will help add at least £20 billion to the UK's
economy.
The Bill has all-party support, with the main political issues being funding and
when construction might start.
56
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