The Queen's Speech
The State Opening of Parliament for the 2009-10 session took place on Wednesday 18 November 2009.
The Government outlined its legislative priorities in the lead up to the General Election in the Queen's Speech. A total of 14 Bills were announced, including the Children, Schools and Families Bill, Child Poverty Bill and Equality Bill.
1. Children, Schools and Families Bill
“Legislation will be brought forward to introduce guarantees for pupils and parents to raise educational standards.”
This Bill would set out expectations for a 21st century education. The Bill would implement the policies set out in the 2009 Schools White Paper; it would create a guarantee of individually tailored tuition for each primary and secondary school child and would end national literacy and numeracy strategies.
It would provide support for head teachers to enforce good behaviour and clarify both parental responsibilities and what they can expect to receive from the state system. In addition it would create a new framework for school accountability and improvement through the introduction of school report cards, which would replace league tables.
The Bill would also set out powers for Ministers to be able to close failing schools. Parents would be given a greater say over the schools in their local areas. The monitoring arrangements for children educated at home would be improved.
The role of Ofsted in inspecting Local Children Safeguarding Bills would be set out more clearly and greater information sharing for child safeguarding would be supported.
Powers would be given to Youth Offending Teams which have been considered to be failing and a new framework would enable the media to report on procedures within family courts while protecting identities. Courts would be able to lift this safeguard if they thought it was in the public interest.
2. Child Poverty Bill
“My Government will continue to enshrine in law its commitment to abolish child poverty by 2020.”
This Bill would set targets relating to the eradication of child poverty, further entrenching the Governments commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020 by setting the commitments in law. The Bill would set out its intent to eradicate child poverty through a new cross-departmental government impetus and the instigation of dialogue with partner organisations.
3. Equality Bill
“My Government is committed to ensuring everyone has a fair chance in life and will continue to take forward legislation to promote equality, narrow the gap between rich and poor and tackle discrimination. The Bill will also introduce transparency in the workplace to help address the differences in pay between men and women.”
The Bill puts forward a commitment to respect for all, fairness for all and opportunity for all. A flagship Bill for the Government and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party; Harriett Harman, the Equality Bill draws together nine major pieces of legislation and over 100 statutory instruments into a single Act. The aim of the new legislation is to encourage a culture of equality and non-discrimination.
The Bill is intended to improve overly complex existing legislation and ensure the public are clear on their rights and responsibilities. Straightforward and practical guidance will be provided as part of the Bill.
The Bill would promote equality, address discrimination and take more steps to encourage equality in the workplace. In particular, it will seek to address gender pay differences and age discrimination. It will include a single equality duty for public bodies, and will ensure that they give regard to discrimination and equality in their purchasing functions, ie who they buy from and subcontract to.
This legislation will apply to England, Scotland and Wales, with legislative consent motions being sought in relation to the powers of devolved ministers to impose specific duties on public bodies. Northern Ireland has separate discrimination law, and will consider whether to take forward parallel legislation.