The Queen's Speech takes place in November of
each year at the beginning of the new session of the
British Parliament. It is preceded by the formal
State Opening of Parliament and the traditional
search of the cellars of the Palace of Westminster.
(Just to make sure that no one is seeking to emulate
Guy Fawkes this year.)
In the speech, the Queen as reigning monarch,
outlines her government's legislative plans for the
forthcoming parliamentiary year and also takes the
opportunity to mention the highlights of her own
coming year. This year it is the Belgians who are the
lucky people to be graced by a royal visit and the
President of Russia will be coming for dinner at the
Palace next summer.
Students of politics will note the number of times
that Blairite buzzword, 'modernise' is used, and
observe that the current administration seems
convinced that Britain's prisons are not sufficiently
overcrowded and proposes two measures to remedy this
unfortunate state of affairs.
The first concerns the removal of the absolute
protection against double jeopardy; people
previously acquited of a crime may soon be retried for
the same offence, but only in the case of serious
offences and where "new and compelling evidence
emerges". It remains to be seen what the definition of
"new and compelling evidence" shall be. The second is
that a jury will now be permitted to be told of the
previous convictions of a defendant. (But this is
apparently only a case of 'simplifying' the rules of
evidence.)
There is also a plan to hold local referenda which
will allow the various regions of England to decide
whether they want their own regional
assemblies. Which is of course, exactly what the
county needs: more politicians.
Not that any of the above actually matters, as the
pubs will soon be open all day, and the entire
nation will be too drunk to care.
The text of the Queen's Speech
November 13, 2002
My Lords and members of the House of Commons.
My government's main priorities are economic
stability, investment and reform in public
services and a constructive foreign policy.
To this end, my government will maintain sound
public finances and will continue to take action to
secure high levels of employment.
This approach will enable my government to continue
to invest in the public services, while supporting
major programmes of reform on health, education,
transport and crime.
At the heart of my government's legislative
programme is a commitment to reform and rebalance the
criminal justice system to deliver justice for all
and to safeguard the interests of victims, witnesses
and communities.
A bill will be introduced to reform sentencing
arrangements and criminal procedures.
Sentencing will be reformed to ensure that the
punishment is appropriate for the offender. New types
of sentence will be introduced to protect the public
from dangerous offenders, help reduce re-offending and
deal with young offenders.
The bill will also allow retrials for those
acquitted of serious offences where new and compelling
evidence emerges. It will also simplify the rules of
evidence to allow judge and jury to hear all the
facts, including relevant previous convictions of a
defendant.
Legislation will also be introduced to reform the
courts system. It will bring together magistrates' courts and the crown court to
work more effectively under a single organisation. New
sanctions will allow courts to enforce the payment of
fines more efficiently.
My government will introduce a bill to tackle
antisocial behaviour that damages communities. A bill
will be brought forward to modernise the laws on
sexual offences and to strengthen the framework of
penalties for sex offenders to protect
the public.
A bill will also be introduced to improve
international co-operation in tackling crime,
including drugs trafficking, and to modernise the
arrangements for international mutual assistance to
catch criminals.
My government will bring forward legislation to
streamline the licensing system for premises selling
alcohol. This will abolish fixed opening hours and
introduce a range of measures to reduce antisocial
behaviour.
My government will continue to modernise the
delivery of healthcare based on the founding
principles of the NHS.
Legislation will be brought forward to devolve power
and resources to frontline staff; give greater freedom
to successful hospitals while increasing their
accountability to local communities; and to introduce
an independent health inspectorate. A bill will also
be introduced to help ensure that local authorities support older people
awaiting discharge from hospital.
Raising educational standards remains my
government's main priority for Britain's future
prosperity.
Secondary school reform will continue to promote
opportunity and choice through greater diversity for
parents and pupils. University reform proposals will
be published to improve access and build on
excellence.
My government wants to create a welfare state
based on giving people rights and responsibilities.
They will pursue proposals that focus on the
importance of work as part of our social security
system.
They will also bring forward proposals to tackle
problems of truancy.
A bill will be brought forward to establish a
railway accident investigation branch in the light of
Lord Cullen's recommendations on
transport safety and reform the way railways are
regulated to improve services for the public.
My government will introduce a bill to modernise
local government by improving the delivery of local
services through better financial management and
greater freedom for councils based on performance.
Legislation will also be introduced to provide for the
holding of referendums on the issue of regional
governance in England.
Legislation will be brought forward to reform the
broadcasting and telecommunications industry by
promoting competition and investment and giving powers
to the office of communications.
Measures will be brought forward to protect our
environment, including legislation on the
conservation and proper management of water.
My government will also introduce legislation to
speed up the planning system while improving the
involvement of local communities.
Members of the House of Commons. Estimates for
the public services will be laid before you.
My Lords and members of the House of Commons.
In Northern Ireland, my government will continue
to work closely with the political parties and the
Irish government to secure the full implementation
of the Belfast agreement. Legislation will be
brought forward on policing in Northern Ireland.
My government maintains its commitment to
devolution in Scotland and Wales. A bill will be
introduced to reform the provision of health
services in Wales.
A bill will be introduced to enable parliament to
reach a conclusion on hunting with dogs.
Parliament will be invited to scrutinise
legislation in draft on a number of measures,
reflecting the importance that my government places on
pre-legislative scrutiny by parliament.
Legislation in draft will be published to improve
both housing standards and standards of management of
private rented accommodation by landlords.
Draft legislation will be published on the
management of nuclear liabilities. A draft bill will
also be published to reform the laws on
corruption.
My government looks forward to considering the
report from the joint committee on House of Lords
reform.
Other measures will be laid before you.
My Lords and members of the House of Commons.
The Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to
paying a visit to Belgium next spring and to
receiving the state visit of his Excellency the
President of Russia next summer.
My government will work for rapid progress on
enlargement of the European Union, notably at next
month's European Council meeting in Copenhagen.
Legislation will be introduced to enable the United
Kingdom to ratify the accession treaty with
prospective member states.
My< government will make a decision on whether to
recommend entry into the single currency on the
basis of the assessment of the five economic tests
to be completed by next June.
The forthcoming NATO Summit in Prague will
emphasise the alliance's continuing role as the
cornerstone of Britain's national security. My
government will continue work for an enlarged and even
more effective NATO, enjoying a close partnership
with Russia.
My government will continue to play a leading role
in combating terrorism and the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction, which are among the
most serious threats to the security of the United
Kingdom and our allies. My government will continue
to work with the international community to ensure the
implementation of all UN Security Council
resolutions.
My government will work for rapid and effective
implementation of the agreements reached at the recent
World Summit for Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg and will focus on tackling climate
change and finding new ways to meet our energy
needs.
My government will continue to work for a more
effective global effort to reduce poverty, building on
the UN millennium development goals and on progress
achieved at the recent Monterrey conference on
financing for development. Britain's aid budget will
be increased and we will work to implement the Africa
Action Plan in response to the new partnership for
Africa's development.
My government will work for a successful outcome to
the current round of world trade negotiations that
benefits industrialised and developing countries
alike.
My Lords and members of the House of Commons.
I pray that the blessing of almighty God may rest
upon your counsels.