The Queen's Speech [abridged, with subtitles]
My Lords and members of the Commons:
My government will continue to pursue its central economic objective of high and stable levels of growth and employment. My government will ensure the continued economic stability which has enabled it to increase the resources available for education, health, transport, and police services. My government will reflect these policies in its Finance Bill.
[The public is broadly happy with the state of the economy, less sure whether to give the present government credit for it. The MORI/Times poll conducted on 23-28 November (which was some time after pre-budget statement) found 41% satisfied but 44% dissatisfied with way Gordon Brown is doing his job; and while 43% agree, 42% disagree "in the long term, this government's policies will improve the state of Britain's economy"; but 72% think the current state of the economy is good, just 23% poor.]
This is my government's fourth legislative programme. My government's main Bills for the coming Session will focus on improving public services and cutting crime.
[With three legislative programmes already enacted, the public are expecting to see results by now. At the start of November (MORI/Mail on Sunday poll), more of the public thought that law and order have got worse under this government than better by two-to-one, thought health has got worse rather than better by five-to-three, and that transport has got worse by more than five-to-one. Only on education does the plurality favour the government's record, by 35% to 23%.]
My government also plans other major Bills and other significant initiatives, particularly in secondary education with the creation of more specialist schools, urban school reform and improved teaching in the early years of secondary education.
My government is determined to combat all aspects of crime to protect all members of our society. My government will introduce legislation to modernise and improve law enforcement by, for example, tackling disorderly conduct.
[This bill will include provisions to close unruly pubs. A MORI survey for the Portman Group, in February-March 2000, found 88% agree "Alcohol misuse is a major cause of violence in Britain today", 14% have been the victim of alcohol related violence in a pub, and 52% think alcohol related violence in pubs, clubs and bars is increasing.]
...
The Bill to give Courts themselves the power to decide whether certain defendants should be tried by jury or by magistrates, will be re-introduced.
[The ICM/Joseph Rowntree Reform trust "State of the Nation" survey in October found 93% thought that the right to a fair trial before a jury should be included in a Bill of Rights, putting it in first place of 15 suggested provisions. By more than ten to one the British agree that Britain needs a bill of Rights to protect the liberty of the individual.]
Legislation will also be brought forward to reduce benefit fraud. This will enable more information to be obtained to prevent fraud and will provide power to withdraw or reduce benefits where a person has twice been convicted of benefit fraud.
[Social security fraud has been a public concern for many years. A MORI poll for Reader's Digest in July 1996 found that the public's average estimate was that 16337 out of every 163100 of welfare or social security paid out was fraudulent. 93% agreed "The government should take tougher measures against Social Security fraud".]
My government remains committed to the founding principles of the National Health Service.
[So does the public. Health and the NHS remains the top issue of concern to the public in the monthly MORI/Times polls. At the end of last year, the foundation of the NHS was a clear winner in a MORI/Times poll which asked the public to name achievements by governments in the 20th century which have contributed most to British life. Although, according to a new MORI poll for the BMA, 58% are satisfied with the NHS and 28% dissatisfied, this represents a sharp deterioration over even the last two years. 47% think it is need of much improvement, and many blame the government. Nor is there much confidence in the future: more than half the public thinks that most or all people in Britain will rely on private health provision by 2050, according to a MORI poll for the Adam Smith Institute.]
My government's NHS Plan showed how it would take forward further reform of health services to improve standards....
A Bill will be brought forward to ban the advertising and promotion of tobacco products.
My government continues to attach the highest importance to improving education. ... During the new Session, my government will continue to work to improve standards in education.
[Education remains in second place on the public's list of most important issues.]
Legislation will be introduced to extend the functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales, to provide better protection for children in Wales.
A Bill will be introduced to increase the effectiveness of the power to reduce regulatory burdens by removing inappropriate and over-complex regulation.
[The MORI/Portman Group survey in February-March found that 39% support and 38% oppose "the relaxing of closing time - i.e. allowing pubs to serve alcohol later than 11pm", one of the measures this bill is set to include.]
Legislation will be brought forward to ease the process of buying and selling homes, and to improve the protection given to homeless people. Progress will also be made on the purchase of freeholds by leaseholders, and on commonhold, a new form of tenure for flatowners.
Members of the House of Commons, Estimates for the Public Service will be laid before you.
My Lords and member of the House of Commons, a Bill will be introduced to enable a free vote to take place on the future of hunting with dogs.
[A MORI poll for IFAW in April 1999 found that 72% nationally support a ban on hunting, as do 65% in rural areas. On the other hand, an NOP survey for the Countryside Alliance on July 1999 found that 89% did not think legislation to ban hunting should take priority over health, education or drug addiction.]
My government has appointed Lord Cullen to head an Inquiry into safety on our railways. A Bill will be drafted to provide for safer travel on the railways, in the air, at sea and on the roads, and will take forward proposals for revitalising health and safety at work.
[Perhaps not enough. Most of the public seem to blame rail disastetrs on privatisation, and 56% in an NOP poll last month for the C4 programme Powerhouse wanted the railways renationalised.]
.... Other measures will be laid before you.
My Lords and member of the House of Commons, The Duke of Edinburgh and I look forward to our State Visit to Norway. My government will continue to work with our partners to shape the future of the European Union. It will work for rapid progress on the enlargement negotiations, and for reform of the institutions of the European Union to prepare them for a wider membership.
[A key plank of this reform will be extension of Qulaified Majority Voting in place of national vetos. 81% think Britain should keep its veto - MORI/Mail on Sunday, 24-25 November. However, polls in the past have found that enlargement as such is popular.]
My government will continue to ensure that NATO remains the foundation of Britain's defence and security. My government will continue to work to make the United Nations Security Council more effective and representative. It will support efforts to improve the United Nations' capacity to undertake peace keeping operations. A White Paper will be published outlining how my government will work to shape the forces of globalization to benefit the world's poor. My government...
[Incidentally, most of the public are still happy that it is her government. An ICM poll published at the start of the Guardian's anti-monarchist campaign this week was reported as finding "support for an outright republican position, with an elected head of state replacing the monarchy" was supported by one in four, "as repeatedly found in previous polls". The question wording used was not reported. For detailed MORI trends, with question wordings, see our Polls on the Monarchy. Curiously, the poll and the Guardian campaign also concentrated on the question of whether we should be British citizens rather than royal subjects. Perhaps somebody ought to tell them that subject status was legally replaced by British citizenship for almost all practical purposes in the UK by the British Nationality Act of 1948?]
... believes that those who commit crimes against humanity should be brought to justice. It will introduce a Bill to enable the UK to ratify the statute of the International Criminal Court. My Lords and member of the House of Commons, I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.
[Comments in brackets by Roger Mortimore, remaining text presumably written by ACL Blair and colleagues. But Her Majesty read it very well.]
