This page is a quick reference guide for local authorities on the proposals, Bills and draft Bills announced in the Queen's Speech 2008. These form part of the Government's legislative programme for the coming year. Links to related documents on info4local are included to provide background information.

All links open in a new window.

Banking Bill

The Bill will strengthen the framework for protecting bank depositors, enhance financial stability through measures to reduce the likelihood of banks getting into difficulties, and improve the tools available to resolve the situation if they do.

Related documents:

Saving Gateway Accounts Bill

The Bill will provide a financial incentive to save among some of the poorest in society.

Related documents:

Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill

The Bill will strengthen local democracy, promote regional and local economic development and ensure fairness in construction contracts.

Related documents:

Welfare Reform Bill

The Bill will build on a commitment to tackle worklessness, nationally and locally, and to create a tax and benefits system that raises family incomes. It will increase the responsibility of those on benefits to take active steps to help themselves get back to work, making clearer the relationship between the support people receive and the expectations on them to participate fully in society. It will provide greater choice and control for disabled people; encouraging independence and personal responsibility. Finally, it will promote parental responsibility through the introduction of joint birth registration.

Related documents:

Policing and Crime Bill

The Bill will increase the effectiveness and public accountability of policing, protect particularly vulnerable members of our society including women and children, prevent crime and disorder from taking root in our communities, reduce crime by improving the recovery of criminal assets and international judicial co-operation and enhance security planning at UK airports.

Related documents:

Coroners and Justice Bill

The Bill will reform the justice and coroners systems to deliver a more effective, transparent and responsive service to the public.

Related documents:

Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill

The Bill will strengthen the border by giving the UK Border Agency the powers it needs at the frontier, bringing together customs and immigration functions to enable a fully integrated approach to border control. It will increase operational effectiveness and border security. It will ensure that newcomers to the United Kingdom earn the right to stay here. It will change nationality law to implement the new path to citizenship within a firm but fair immigration system. Finally, it will introduce a duty on UKBA to safeguard the welfare of children in its work.

Related documents:

Equality Bill

The Bill will reduce nine major pieces of legislation and around 100 statutory instruments into a single Act, making the law more accessible and easier to understand, so that everyone can be clear on their rights and responsibilities. It will encourage a culture of equality, so that people from all backgrounds are able to make the most of their skills and talents. It will deliver much needed simplification and harmonisation of discrimination law, providing straightforward, practical guidance so that they can understand and comply with their responsibilities. Finally, it will require public bodies to give due regard to the need to tackle discrimination and promote equality through their purchasing functions.

Child Poverty Bill

The Bill will give new impetus to Government’s commitment and ensure a focus across government on ending child poverty for the long term.

Related documents:

Health Bill

The Bill will improve the quality of NHS care and services and improve public health. It will deliver high quality care for all through the NHS Constitution, direct payments for health services and quality accounts. It will improve public health through measures to protect children and young people from the harm caused by smoking. Finally, it will extend the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman to consider complaints from people who have arranged their own adult social care.

Related documents:

Children, Skills and Learning Bill

The Bill will reform education, training and apprenticeships for young people and adults and provide new powers to strengthen children’s trusts, improve standards in schools and increase confidence in qualifications.

Related documents:

Marine and Coastal Access Bill

The Bill will set up the Marine Management Organisation to be the UK’s centre of marine expertise and strategic body for marine conservation and marine-related policy. It will also give people the right to walk right around the English coast for the first time.

Political Parties and Elections Bill

The Bill will strengthen the regulatory powers of the Electoral Commission to provide new powers of investigation and the option of civil sanctions. It will  enable political parties to put forward four Electoral Commissioners to be in a minority on the Commission and relax political restrictions on staff of the Commission. It will regulate spending by candidates for a longer period so that spending for electoral purposes is more effectively constrained. It will place further requirements on parties and donors to clarify the source of donations. It will amend the Representation of the People Act 1983 to provide a more flexible system for adding to the register of electors when an election is called while the register is being updated. Finally, it will allow for the administration of European Parliament elections by local authority (rather than Parliamentary) returning officers to help ensure the successful delivery of elections.

Related documents:

Business Rates Supplement Bill

The Bill will give local authorities new flexibilities to set a supplement on the current national business rate of up to 2p per pound of rateable value to be used to promote economic development in their local area. It will provide a vital new tool for councils to promote long-term economic growth, working with local businesses and the local community. It will include a national upper limit on the supplement of 2p per pound of rateable value and an exemption for business properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or less. Finally, it will give councils a legal duty to consult businesses and other stakeholders before introducing a supplement. Where a supplement will fund more than one-third of any one project, businesses will have the opportunity to vote.

Quick search
  • Real Help Now

Popular on info4local