29 June 2009

NEWS RELEASE

Draft Legislative Programme 2009-10 Published

Harriet Harman QC MP, Leader of the House of Commons, today announced details of the Government's Draft Legislative Programme for 2009-10.

In a written Ministerial statement, she identified the key priorities for legislation in the next session of Parliament. The draft programme forms part of the Government's proposals for 'Building Britain's Future', published today.

The Government is seeking the views of the public on a draft programme ahead of the Queen's Speech towards the end of 2009. For the third year in succession, the consultation provides a valuable opportunity for individuals and other interested groups to consider - and comment on - the Government's current proposals before a formal announcement is made at the State Opening of Parliament.
The Government is currently proposing to introduce 11 bills in the next session of Parliament. The aim of publication is to be transparent about what the Government plans to achieve through legislation.

The list is:

. Financial services and business Bill
. Digital economy Bill
. Energy Bill
. Flood and water management Bill
. Improving schools and safeguarding children Bill
. Equality Bill
. Child Poverty Bill
. Policing, crime and private security Bill
. Constitutional renewal Bill
. Bribery Bill
. Cluster munitions prohibition Bill

Two of the bills - the Equality Bill and the Child Poverty Bill - have recently been introduced but will be largely considered in the 2009-10 session. The Constitutional renewal bill is intended for introduction before the end of this session.

The Government expects this Draft Programme to develop and change over the course of the year as a result both of consultation and as new issues arise.

For example, on 10 June the Prime Minister announced the start of public engagement on further democratic reform, some parts of which could require primary legislation - this exercise will be running in parallel with consultation on the Draft Legislative Programme.

The Parliamentary Standards Bill, currently before the House of Commons, is intended to become law before the summer recess. It will create an Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to revise, monitor and administer the system of MPs' allowances; to set and enforce the rules relating to the registration of MPs' financial interests; to create new criminal offences for MPs of making false or misleading claims for allowances, failing to register a financial interest and engaging in paid advocacy and to provide for the Code of Conduct for Members to be placed on a statutory footing.

The Government has already made significant reforms to the House of Lords and will bring forward further reform through the Constitutional Renewal Bill. To complete this final phase of reform, the Government will then set out proposals and publish a draft bill for a smaller and democratically constituted second chamber.

The Government is keen to receive the public's views on the Draft Legislative Programme, in particular whether people think the Draft Legislative Programme reflects the right priorities for the United Kingdom and, if not, what other issues they think the Government should be addressing.

Ms Harman said: "The Government has taken close account of the previous two consultations and published summaries of the responses. The aim is to be transparent about what the Government plans to achieve through legislation.
"This gives both the public and Parliament an opportunity to look across the programme as a whole and take a view as to whether the balance of priorities is right, whether there are important areas that have been missed out or areas of the programme that should be given lower priority. This, in turn, enables views to be fed into the development of the programme before the final programme is announced in the Queen's Speech towards the end of the year.
"I am keen to build on the experience of previous years. This is about strengthening the interaction with the public. We want their views. The programme will affect many aspects of people's daily lives, and I hope that many more of them will now take the opportunity to respond."

The opportunity to comment on the draft programme will be available from today.  Information is available on the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons website (www.commonsleader.gov.uk). The consultation will close on 21 September 2009.

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