2007 Queen’s Speech  

·Banking System Bill

Will improve the current framework for dealing with banks in distress – including the arrangements for depositor protection.

Will put the new high-speed rail link from the Channel Tunnel to London St Pancras on a sustainable footing.

Will help transform the life chances of children and young people in care - and as we put the needs of children in care at the centre of delivering on Every Child Matters.

The bill will make the UK the first country in the world to legislate for long-term targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To ensure that the police and law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to protect the public against terrorism, while preserving rights and liberties. This is the bill where the time limit for detaining suspected terrorists could be increased.

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 fund the provision of a youth facility in every constituency. It will also be used for financial inclusion, financial capability and social investment.

This bill will increase education 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.

This bill will take 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 we are 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 to determine their membership.

This will strengthen the legal framework of our energy market to help ensure clean, secure and affordable energy supplies.

To 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’s 27 members. It provides the financial foundation for the future direction of the EU’s budget.

Will ratify the European Reform Treaty, which The Government expects 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. This bill could see amendments demanding a referendum.

This 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.

To reform social housing regulation, placing tenants at the heart of social housing.

This legislation 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. Some MPs may use this bill to try to reduce the time limit for abortions.

Powers will be devolved to local councils 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.

Will bring in 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 the 2009-2010 financial year.

Will bring forward proposals on tighter regulation of party finance and expenditure. 

To underscore Labour’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 don’t currently benefit from it.

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.

To help businesses stay competitive in the global economy by taking radical measures to reduce red tape from regulators and local inspectors.

To raise significant funds for the government, by selling the student loans portfolio.

Aims to strengthen the relationship between citizens, society and the state by entrusting Parliament and the people with more power.

To 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.

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.

Will introduce a new framework for the seas, based on marine spatial planning, that balances conservation, energy and resource needs.

Aims to ensure a safe and thriving global shipping industry which we see as vital to the UK economy.

The bill to replace the Child Support Agency with a new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) and a new child maintenance system.

Aims to tackle anti-social behaviour, cut crime and ensure that the criminal justice system is firmly on the side of the law-abiding citizen.

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 London.