BBC
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Plans to combat terrorism, crime and anti-social behaviour will dominate Tony Blair's final months in office.

Tackling climate change and reforming pensions will also be key parts of the government's programme of 29 bills for the coming Parliamentary session.

There will also be moves to strengthen border controls, prevent illegal working and push ahead with ID cards.

The government's priorities were set out in Parliament by the Queen amid the traditional pomp and ceremony.

The Queen told MPs and peers: "At the heart of my government's programme will be further action to provide strong, secure and stable communities, and to address the threat of terrorism.

"My government will put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system, support the police and all those responsible for the public's safety and proceed with the development of ID cards."

Environment

In what it is describing as an "ambitious" Queen's Speech for the "aspiring majority", the government says it will push ahead with plans to implement the Turner report on pensions.

These include restoring the link with earnings and giving more women access to the state pension.

On the environment, the government has rejected Conservative calls for annual pollution targets in favour of a long-term goal of a 60% cut in carbon emission by 2050 and an independent panel to monitor progress.

On Lords reform, ministers pledge to continue seeking a cross-party consensus before coming up with new legislation.

But they remain committed to abolishing the remaining hereditary peers and holding a free vote on the composition of the second chamber.

Also included are plans to:

Extend road pricing schemes

Give new powers to London's mayor

Scrap the Child Support Agency

Reform regulation of human embryology

Tighten regulation of estate agents
But as in recent years, it is the Home Office that will have the heaviest workload, with eight separate bills referred to in the programme.

Sentencing reforms could see criminals caught red-handed lose the right to have their sentences cut by a third if they plead guilty, and tougher sentences for violent prisoners.

Police will also be given the power to throw home-owners out of their properties within 48 hours for committing anti-social behaviour.

Officers will also get new powers to seize criminal assets, in a fresh crackdown on organised crime.

Terrorism

The immigration measures are expected to put into practice the plans unveiled in the summer for tighter immigration controls and firmer action against employers who use illegal immigrant labour.

On terrorism, no new bills were unveiled but the government said it would legislate to fill the "gaps" identified by Home Secretary John Reid's review of current capabilities and resources, "taking into account lessons learned" from the alleged airline terror plot last summer.

Some ministers are said to be in favour of a new attempt to allow the detention of terrorism suspects for up to 90 days, before they are charged.

Last year, a combination of Tory, Liberal Democrat and rebel Labour MPs defeated the government amid civil liberties fears, and pushed through a 28-day limit instead.

Crossrail

There are also plans to abolish jury trials in complex fraud cases.

An amendment from the abandoned Mental Health Bill is likely to permit people with severe personality disorders to be given compulsory detention and treatment.

In addition to the new measures unveiled, three bills have been carried over from the last session, covering welfare reform, corporate manslaughter and Crossrail.

The session is scheduled to last until next November, and as Mr Blair has said he will stand down by next September, it will be his last one in office.

'Practical measures'

Shadow home secretary David Davis, for the Conservatives, said the government's programme "leaves us in limbo," offering no solutions to the "meltdown" in prisons and the "collapse of immigration controls".

On terrorism, he called for "practical measures which did not impinge on people's civil liberties but actually do allow the police the powers to do their job".

"Of course there's a constant threat from terrorism. But we've got to get it in perspective and we've got to handle it properly," he told BBC News 24.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said this Queen's Speech was "remarkably similar to those which have gone before" and included too much legislation.

"This is a prime minister trying to legislate his way into history," added Sir Menzies.

Later on Wednesday Conservative leader David Cameron, who warned against a watered down Climate Change Bill, and Sir Menzies, will give their reaction to the package to MPs in the House of Commons.