Queen's Speech: A legislative programme for a stronger economy
Economic growth, Scottish consumers and families are the focus of the UK Government's legislative programme announced in the Queen's Speech today
A stronger economy with a better deal for Scottish consumers and families is the focus of the UK Government’s legislative programme announced in the Queen’s Speech today (Wednesday 9 May).
The Coalition government’s founding principle was to reduce the country’s record peacetime deficit, to rebalance the economy and to set it back on the path to sustainable growth. Over the past two years, the UK Government has acted to deliver that long-term success. The content of this Queen’s speech builds on that approach.
The 15 Bills - 14 of which will apply to Scotland in full or in part - will also include measures to change the composition of the House of Lords.
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore said: “This Queen’s speech is a further step towards rebalancing our economy and setting it back on the path to growth.
“The measures here are not just about numbers. They are designed to make life easier for Scotland’s consumers and households in these testing times.
“These proposals aim to help Scottish families and individuals who want clean energy at affordable prices and a fair deal for themselves and our farmers when they buy food from the supermarket shelves. Our proposals will also provide greater security for households by shielding savings as we reform the banking system.
“This government is tackling the major issues across the country. We are clearing up the economic mess we inherited as a government and taking steps to prevent the chance of that ever happening again. But we are also taking fair and affordable measures to make life better for households across Scotland too. That commitment lies at the heart of this speech.”
The legislative programme also includes four draft Bills. We will also seek to support a Scottish Law Commission Bill on Unincorporated Associations and Partnerships, which seeks to reform the criminal liability of partnerships in Scots law. The move was suggested after the Rosepark nursing home fire in 2004 and the case against the care home operators failing in the courts because of a loophole which prevented the prosecution of a partnership once it had been dissolved.
Non-legislative measures in the Queen’s Speech included a commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on international aid from 2013, which would make the UK the first G8 country to meet that target, and the Succession to the Crown.
The Legislative Programme
Many aspects of life in Scotland will be affected by the measures, including:
In the First Session, 20 Bills were mentioned in the State Opening Speech, including one draft Bill, and 32 main programme Bills received Royal Assent.