He is the full list of Bills in the Queen's speech, unless I am missing something there is little actually new or visionary here, but then with Brown at the helm what can we expect? Brown the Borrower strikes again, Brown the Taxer, a number of Brown the Developer Bill's and Brown the Confused over Pensions, was it not he who raided the countries pension schemes, erh yes of course, so it was! And then there is Brown the Educator who has no idea what to do with the disaffected youth the Labour Party has created during its reign. Here is a clue, its called aspiration.
Apprenticeships (draft) Bill
Applying in England, this bill is likely to give 16 to 18-year-olds an entitlement to an apprenticeship, in an effort to reduce the number of young people not in education, training or employment.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link Bill
Sets out provisions which clarify the legal and regulatory position of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, ahead of a restructuring of the company which built the link. Applies to whole UK.
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill
This bill, applying to England, Wales and Scotland, will set up the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to replace the Child Support Agency. The government says it will have tougher powers to force absent parents to pay for their children. It will also set up a scheme to pay a lump sum to people suffering from the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, who are not yet eligible for compensation. Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Children and Young Persons Bill
Gives councils powers to organise children's care in different ways and ensure children do not move schools in Years 10 and 11, except in exceptional circumstances. Says young people should not be "forced out of care before they are ready" and calls for higher standards for those children placed in care. Applies to England and Wales.
Citizenship and Immigration (draft) Bill
Will "take forward any recommendations" from the review of citizenship by former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.
Climate Change Bill
This bill creates a legal framework to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions up to 2050 and beyond. It will propose statutory targets to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and between 26 and 32% by 2020 - as compared with 1990's emissions. Provides for pilot schemes by councils to cut household waste. Much of the bill applies to the whole UK.
Constitutional Renewal (draft) Bill
Promises to "rebalance power" between Parliament and the government and give MPs more clout to hold the government to account. Subject to more consultation, the bill will propose giving Parliament powers to ratify treaties and decide whether troops should be deployed. It will also incorporate the findings of the ongoing consultation on judicial appointments and the handling of protests in Parliament Square. Most of the bill applies to the whole UK.
Counter-Terrorism Bill
Would enable post-charge questioning of terrorist suspects and the drawing of "adverse inferences" from refusals to say something which is later relied on in court. The bill would ensure the police and intelligence services can make full use of DNA and convicted terrorists provide police with personal information when they are released from prison. Convicted terrorists would be banned from travelling overseas. Applies to whole UK.
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill
Includes jailing non-dangerous criminals who breach the terms of their release for 28 days only - rather than automatically serving out the rest of their sentence. The bill will also introduce Violent Offenders Orders, which are post-sentence restrictions on violent offenders, and a new immigration status for people convicted of terrorism or serious offences. It would ban the possession of "extreme" pornographic images available on the internet and not covered by the Obscene Publications Act. The government also says it would amend the law on self-defence to ensure people who act with "reasonable force" to protect themselves, others and their property are "fully protected" under the law. It largely relates to England and Wales, although some provisions will extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Crossrail Bill
Gives necessary powers to build Crossrail, a railway stretching east to west across London. Carried over from the previous parliamentary session - having been introduced in February 2005.
Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) (draft) Bill
Would allow the UK to ratify the 1954 Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property, providing a series of protections for cultural artefacts during wars.
Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill
Allows the government to use money held in bank and building society accounts which have not been used for 15 years to provide more youth facilities. Applies to the whole UK.
EC Finance Bill
This bill will amend the European Communities Act 1972 - to change the way the UK finances the annual EC budget. It allows the UK to make payments direct from the government's own bank account - the Consolidated Fund.
Education and Skills Bill
Gives the power to England and Wales for all 16 to 18-year-olds to be required to stay in some form of education or training by 2015. Also places a duty on employers to release young people for the equivalent of one day's training a week, while parents and local authorities have a duty to make sure young people participate.
Employment Bill
Promises clearer and stronger enforcement of employment law and to bring in measures to resolve disputes more quickly. Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Energy Bill
This bill aims to provide greater incentives for renewable energy generation and to make it easier for private firms to invest in offshore gas supply infrastructure, in "carbon capture" research and provisions on nuclear waste and decommissioning financing. Applies to whole UK.
EU Reform Treaty Bill
Would bring into UK law the EU Reform Treaty, which is due to be signed by EU heads of government in December.
Health and Social Care Bill
Would establish the Care Quality Commission to inspect and intervene in failing hospitals. This combines the functions of the existing Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Mental Health Act Commission. The bill would also bolster professional regulation.
Heritage Protection Draft Bill
Proposes a "unified" heritage protection system, removing "unhelpful distinctions" between schemes such as listing and scheduling. Applies to England and Wales with some parts applying to Northern Ireland.
Housing and Regeneration Bill
This merges the Housing Corporation, which distributes funds to housing associations to build new social housing, and English Partnerships, which plans housing projects in new growth areas.
It will also implement the recommendations of the Cave Review of Social Housing Regulation and respond to the implications of the recent ECHR ruling on gypsies and travellers. Applies to England and Wales.
Human Tissues and Embryos Bill
Would ensure the creation and use of all human embryos outside the body is regulated. The bill also proposes a ban on selecting the sex of babies for non-medical reasons and would recognise same-sex couples as legal parents of children conceived through the use of donated sperm, eggs or embryos. Applies to the whole UK, although there are some provisions involving the changes to legal parenthood in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Local Transport Bill
Would give local authorities "greater freedom and choice" to set their transport policies, including more "freedom and flexibility" to set up local road-pricing schemes. Applies to England and Wales, with some provisions extending to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Marine (draft) Bill
Proposes a new system of planning for marine and offshore developments. Proposed for whole of UK.
Marine Navigation and Port Safety (draft) Bill
Proposes giving lighthouse authorities more powers to operate a modern service and clarifies the existing framework for port safety. Applies to the whole UK.
National Insurance Contributions Bill
Would harmonise the upper earnings limit (UEL) for national insurance contributions with the higher rate income tax threshold. The UEL will rise in phases, to match the higher rate income tax threshold by April 2009. The measure would extend across the UK.
Pensions Bill
Would mean eligible workers are automatically enrolled into a pension scheme, with a minimum employer contribution introduced. Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
Planning Reform Bill
Calls for the establishment of a new separate planning system for major infrastructure projects and simplifying the planning system for minor home improvements. In many cases formal planning permission will no longer be required. Applies to England.
Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill
Aims to "reduce unnecessary burdens" placed on business by local authority regulations. Applies to whole UK.
Sale of Student Loans Bill
This bill, applying to England and Wales, covers the proposal to sell the student loan book, announced by Gordon Brown in the 2007 Budget, which is expected to raise £6bn over three years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7080446.stm
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