Officially reopening the Parliament on Tuesday, the Queen outlined the government's priorities for the year ahead. In a ten-minute speech in the House of Lords, she highlighted 30 laws that ministers intend to pass in the coming year.
The key talking points are as follows: Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill: extension of 5G mobile coverage and introduce new safety standards for digital devices, Subsidy Control Bill, Procurement Bill, National Insurance Contributions Bill, Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill, High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill, Armed Forces Bill, Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Online Safety Bill, Counter-State Threats Bill, Telecommunications (Security) Bill, Victims Bill, Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill, Electoral Integrity Bill, Judicial Review Bill, Planning Bill, Building Safety Bill, Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, Environment Bill among others. The speech did not commit the government to introducing a specific bill to overhaul how the sector is funded. The speech also said the government would be introducing measures to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.
The Queen's Speech is being critiqued for not addressing how best to protect people from conversion therapy, and also missed out on specifics of helping care homes and the homeless, despite mentioning that measures will be taken to reform the operation of the social care system in England.
Following the Queen's Speech in the House of Lords, Conservative Shailesh Vara kick-started the debate in the House of Commons. He said, "It is a great honour and privilege for me and my constituents to move this loyal address,” adding that the Queen's commitment to her nation is an example to all of us.
He further added, “It’s heartbreaking scenes on our televisions from India are a reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe". For someone from his background to be moving the Queen's Speech, "shows what a truly great and magnificent country we all live in", Vara said.
