Source: BBC
The Queen’s speech of Tuesday 11th May 2021 has set out more than two dozen planned bills for the government’s legislative programme in the coming parliament.
In a ten-minute speech in the House of Lords, she highlighted 30 laws that ministers intend to pass in the coming year. This includes a number of bills carried over from the previous “session” of Parliament, which ended in April. It also includes a number of bills included in past Queen’s Speeches.
Here is a summary of the main points, which you can also download as a handy grid here.
Infrastructure and ‘levelling up’
– A Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill will extend 5G mobile coverage and introduce new safety standards for digital devices
– A Subsidy Control Bill will set out post-Brexit regulations on how the government can support private companies, now the UK has left the EU’s “state aid” regime
– Another post-Brexit piece of legislation, the Procurement Bill, will replace EU rules on how the government buys services from the private sector
– Tax breaks for employers based in eight freeports to be set up in England later this year will be included in a National Insurance Contributions Bill
– A new UK agency to search for ground-breaking scientific discoveries will be established by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
– New powers to build and operate the next stage of the HS2 high-speed rail line are contained in the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill
Armed forces
– Legacy legislation will deal with legacy issues from the Troubles in Northern Ireland, including restrictions on future prosecutions of British soldiers
– Government support for veterans will be outlined in a Armed Forces Bill, putting the so-called Armed Forces Covenant into law
Constitutional reform
– A Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill will get rid of the fixed five-year period between general elections and return the power to call early elections to the prime minister
– Plans to force voters in Great Britain to to prove their identity when they vote at general elections will be introduced in an Electoral Integrity Bill
– A Judicial Review Bill will set out the government’s plans to change how its decisions can be challenged in the courts
Housing
– A long-awaited Planning Bill will introduce changes to the planning system in England, including a controversial zoning system
– A new system for regulating the safety of high-rise buildings, and inspecting construction sites, will be set out in the Building Safety Bill
Education
– A Skills and Post-16 Education Bill will introduce a new “flexible loan” system designed to promote wider participation in further education in England
– A Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will place new legal duties on students’ unions and universities in England to ensure free speech on campus
Environment and animal welfare
– The Environment Bill, whose passage through Parliament has been repeatedly delayed, will introduce new post-Brexit rules on protecting nature
– A trio of bills on animal welfare will ban the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter, and bring in mandatory microchipping for cats
Borders and security
– The speech referenced new legislation to overhaul the UK’s post-Brexit asylum system and discourage migrants from crossing the English Channel
– New powers for the police over protests, and new sentences for serious crimes, are in the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
– A draft Online Safety Bill will contain new requirements on tech giants to tackle harmful and illegal content online
– A Counter-State Threats Bill will introduce new registration requirements for foreign agents and rules for protecting state secrets
– The Telecommunications (Security) Bill will place new legal duties on telecoms firms to increase network security, and restrict the use of “high risk” technology
– A draft Victims Bill will create new rights for the victims of crime, including new standards on support offered to sexual and domestic victims
Responding to the details of the Government’s legislative plan set out in today’s Queen’s Speech, Claire Walker, Co-Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Businesses will welcome the clear direction in today’s Queen’s Speech as the Government looks to boost the economy and place all parts of the UK on an equal footing.
“As companies begin the slow process of rebuilding following the pandemic it is vital that they are given the support they need to kick start their recovery.
“A strong focus on improving digital and technical skills that match the needs of local business will be a key driver in making that happen.
“Improving rail and bus services, maximising the national coverage of 5G mobile services and superfast broadband, while simplifying the planning system are important enablers to ensuring companies can rebuild and grow.
“These are all challenges that have existed for a long time, and we are now at a critical juncture where they must be addressed. This opportunity cannot be wasted, and the Chamber network will have a laser focus to ensure the Government delivers on its promises.
“It is disappointing that new employment legislation that could address the flexibility of working practices did not feature.The pandemic has changed the way we work forever, and employers need clear guidance on how to provide long-term flexible working arrangements that will make jobs more accessible for everyone.”
“Businesses will welcome the clear direction in today’s Queen’s Speech as the Government looks to boost the economy and place all parts of the UK on an equal footing."
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