Queen to confirm Brown's programme

Last Modified: 06 Nov 2007
By: Channel 4 News

When the Queen reads out her government's legislative programme for the coming 12 months today, she will be repeating a list of bills first unveiled four months ago.

Gordon Brown broke with 150 years of tradition by announcing the government's programme himself in July.

Here are some of the key bills expected to be confirmed by the Queen today:

Housing Bill: Creating a Housing and Regeneration Agency to support the government's plans for three million new homes by 2020, increasing the annual target from 200,000 to 240,000 homes from 2016.

Education and Skills Bill: Raising the school leaving age from 16 to 18, with fines of up to £200 for those who fail to attend.

Health and Social Care Bill: Creating a new health and social care regulator, called Ofcare, as well as introducing a "health in pregnancy" grant to encourage mums-to-be to eat better.

Climate Change Bill: Introducing a legal framework for a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 as part of Britain's contribution towards slowing and reversing global warming. The bill will set out plans for five-yearly emission reduction targets and create a new Committee on Climate Change to advise the government.

Counter Terrorism Bill: New measures including the extension of pre-charge detention - probably from 28 days to 56 - and tougher sentences for terrorism-related crimes.

Constitutional Reform Bill: Introducing measures to limit or surrender Royal Prerogative powers exercised by ministers, such as the power to make war.

Human Tissues and Embryology Bill: Reshaping laws governing experimental work on human-animal hybrids, which will give scientists the opportunity to embark on a wide range of research, provided it is approved by regulators. The government has indicated that this bill will be open to backbench amendments seeking either to liberalise or tighten the UK's abortion laws, with MPs expected to have a free vote.

Energy Bill: Providing greater incentives for renewable energy generation.

Local Transport Bill: Tackling congestion and improving public transport.

Child Maintenance Bill: Scrapping the Child Support Agency and creating a new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission with greater powers to force "deadbeat dads" to support their offspring financially.

Children in Child Care Bill: Intended to give children in state care more stability and opportunities, so they are not disadvantaged compared to their peers.

Pensions Bill: Requiring all employers to provide staff pension schemes.

Planning Bill: Speeding up the approval of major infrastructure projects, as well the planning system more generally.

Planning Gain Supplement Bill: Ensuring that some of the value added to land with the award of planning permission is channelled back from developers to local authorities.

Enforcement and Sanctions Bill: Easing the burden of red tape on business.

Employment Simplification Bill: Streamlining processes for the enforcement of the minimum wage.

Unclaimed Assets Bill: Channelling money from dormant bank accounts into improving youth and community facilities.

Coroners Bill: Designed to improve the way inquests are staged in England and Wales.