Queen's Speech delivered to Parliament

Following the recent General Election, the Queen has delivered her speech to Parliament, stressing that the government will work to 'promote and expand the United Kingdom’s influence in the world'.

Legislation to take the UK out of the EU on 31 January was among more than 30 bills being announced. In total, seven of the bills included in the speech were devoted to Brexit - with legislation on trade, agriculture, fisheries, immigration, financial services and private international law.

A key part of the Conservative Party's election campaigning, the NHS featured within the speech, with the Queen saying that, for the first time, the health service’s multi-year funding settlement, agreed earlier this year, will be enshrined in law. She also told ministers that 'steps will be taken' to expand and support the NHS workforce, with a new visa to ensure qualified doctors, nurses and health professionals have fast-track entry to the UK.

Always a contentious issue, the Queen's Speech also revealed that hospital car parking charges will be removed 'for those in greatest need'.

Regarding social care, the Queen said that her government will 'seek cross-party consensus on proposals for long term reform of social care', before detailing that ministers will continue work to reform the Mental Health Act.

Also prominent throughout 2019, the speech detailed government plans to combat the climate emergency, saying that ministers will 'continue to take steps to meet the world-leading target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050', claiming that the COP26 Summit in 2020 is an example of leading 'the war tackling global climate change'.

A bill will enshrine in law environmental principles and legally-binding targets, including for air quality, and also ban the exports of polluting plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Queen said that Boris Johnson's government will carry out a review into security, defence and foreign policy, which will 'cover all aspects of international policy from defence to diplomacy and development'.

A few weeks on from the London Bridge terror attack, the Queen also said that her government is pledging new sentencing laws to 'ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody', and that ministers will establish a Royal Commission to review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice process.

Regarding serious crime, there will also be new laws requiring schools, police, councils and health authorities to work together to prevent serious crime.

Plans for an Australian-style points-based immigration system from 1 January 2021 was mentioned, alongside new laws to 'accelerate the delivery of gigabit capable broadband'.

Investing in the country’s public services and infrastructure will be undertaken whilst 'maintaining the sustainability of the public finances'. But the speech did say that prioritising investment in infrastructure will 'give communities more control over how investment is spent so that they can decide what is best for them'.

The government will also bring forward measures to support working families, including raising the National Insurance threshold and increasing the National Living Wage. Other measures being pledged by the Conservatives include encouraging flexible working, introducing the entitlement to leave for unpaid carers, new rules to protect tenants and support home ownership, and legislation to improve internet safety.

Parliament also heard pledges for major changes to building and fire safety laws in two bills, including the delivery of a new safety framework for high-rise buildings, ensuring residents’ concerns are never ignored and strengthening fire safety requirements.