Education and Skills
Content After 2015 young people will be required to stay in education
or training until they are 18. Parents, employers and local authorities will
have a duty to make sure that teenagers comply. The Bill also creates a new
framework for the provision of adult skills training.
Analysis This is central to Gordon Brown’s plans to widen opportunity
and raise economic productivity in Britain. But although many voluntary
groups support some sort of action to stop teenagers dropping out of school
or training, they draw the line at compulsory attendance. The cost of
implementing the changes is likely to be high. Controversy rating 3/5
Housing and Regeneration
Content A new agency, created from the merger of the Housing
Corporation and English Partnerships, will oversee the task of increasing
the supply of land for house-building (Brown has set a target of three
million new homes by 2020). The Bill also gives social housing tenants more
control.
Analysis Many agree that more homes are needed to keep pace with
demand, but big battles are expected over new developments. The Times
revealed last week that the National Trust will fight to protect greenfield
land. Controversy rating 3/5
Counter-Terrorism
Content New antiterrorism powers, including the freedom to question
suspects after they have been charged and banning convicted terrorists from
travelling abroad. Police will also be able to draw on a new DNA database.
Analysis Brown has signalled that he wants to extend the 28-day
detention limit on terrorist suspects, probably to 56 days. Tony Blair
suffered his first Commons defeat on the same issue in 2005 and David
Cameron may fall foul too if the public backs tougher powers. Controversy
rating 5/5
Human Fertilisation, Embryology
Content Allows gay couples to become joint parents of children
conceived through fertility treatment and creates framework for experiments
with human-animal embryos. Backbenchers will introduce amendments on the
abortion law.
Analysis With “pro-life” MPs pushing to reduce the limit for abortions
to 20 weeks and pro-choice MPs seeking to liberalise controls, this is
likely be the most controversial Bill this session. Controversy rating 5/5
Planning Reform
Content Streamlines the planning system to speed up decisions on
“nationally significant infrastructure”, such as nuclear power stations.
This will replace the need for planning inquiries for each site with a
single consent regime.
Analysis This Bill will become the battle-ground for a new generation
of nuclear power stations. These are very unpopular with the environmental
lobby but Tory ambivalence means that opposition in Parliament will be more
muted. Controversy rating 3/5
Climate Change
Content Sets out statutory targets of cutting carbon dioxide emissions
by at least 60 per cent by 2050 and between 26 and 32 per cent by 2020.
Analysis There is a real risk that green-minded Labour MPs may side
with Tories and Liberal Democrats to vote for annual targets to cut carbon
emissions, which the Government rejects as too inflexible. Controversy
rating 4/5
EU Reform Treaty
Content Puts into law the EU reform treaty that was finalised in
Lisbon. The treaty, to be signed next month, creates the new posts of EU
president and foreign minister, extends qualified majority voting into new
areas, expands EU powers over home affairs matters and introduces a new EU
Charter of Fundamental Human Rights.
Analysis The pledge to hold a referendum on the treaty’s failed
predecessor, the EU Constitution, continues to haunt the Government. The
Government insists that the treaty is different from the constitution and
that, in any case, it has secured opt-outs from all the most controversial
elements, meaning that there is no fundamental change in Britain’s
relationship with Brussels. The Conservatives are determined to expose what
they regard as one of Brown’s weakest flanks. The scene is now set for a
protracted battle, the high point of which will be a vote on whether to hold
a referendum. Controversy rating 5/5
Energy
Content Creates legal framework for new nuclear power stations by
requiring power companies to cover waste and decommissioning costs. The Bill
also seeks to encourage investment in gas supply and carbon capture and
storage, and alters subsidy regime for renewable energy.
Analysis This is a legally complex area and environmental groups have
already challenged the Government’s consultation on nuclear power, which has
delayed the policy. Controversy rating 3/5
Children and Young Persons
Content Gives local authorities in England the power to organise the
provision of children’s care. This is intended to give children more
stability during critical periods of schooling (such as not allowing them to
move schools during years 10 and 11, except in exceptional circumstances).
Analysis Likely to be welcomed as once-in-a-generation opportunity to
improve state care of vulnerable children. Controversy rating 1/5
Work Life Balance
Content The Government plans to look at giving parents with children
aged six years and over the right to ask their employers for flexible
working hours, which parents with children under six years already enjoy.
AnalysisThe Government is coy over the details of its plans but this
family-friendly measure will appeal to aspirant working parents,
particularly women. The impact on employers needs careful examination. Controversy
rating 2/5
Local Transport
Content Gives councils new powers to develop road pricing schemes and
other measures to reduce congestion. Also gives local authorities new powers
to make bus travel more attractive.
Analysis The unpopularity of road-pricing was vividly demonstrated when
a Downing Street petition opposing it attracted more than a million
signatures. Introducing a variable tax on car travel remains a long term
ambition, however, and the environmental benefits will mute opposition. Controversy
rating 2/5
Pensions
Content An opt-in principle for occupa-tional pensions, with an
employee right to opt out rather than vice versa, plus minimum employer
contributions to staff pensions and personal pension accounts.
Analysis Supported by pensions industry. Controversy rating 2/5
Criminal Justice and Immigration
Content Introduces new-style ASBOs for violent criminals, creates a new
law that criminalises inciting hatred of homo-sexuals, limits the right to
parole, bans extreme, but not obscene, pornography, creates new powers to
close premises at the centre of serious disorder. May also expand the
definition of self-defence.
Analysis The stated aim of the Bill is to rebalance the criminal
justice system in favour of victims. In concentrating on violent offenders
it seeks to address directly voters’ strongest fears. Opposition MPs will
accuse the Government of gimmickry. Controversy rating 4/5
Dormant Bank, Building Society Accounts Content Allows financial
institutions to divert money unclaimed in dormant accounts to be spent on
community services such as youth services.
Analysis The lack of compulsion and right of the account-holders to
reclaim savings will put the spotlight on how the seized money is spent. Controversy
rating 2/5
Banking System Legislation
Content The Bill will reform the rules governing the deposit guarantee
scheme to shore up confidence in troubled financial institutions.
Analysis The run on Northern Rock in September, and the devastating
effect the subprime crisis is still having, has made ministers acutely aware
of the inadequacies of the scheme, which covers only £30,000 of an
individual saver’s money. Controversy rating 1/5
Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions
Content Introduces a new tier of bodies to cut red-tape at local level,
encourages regulators to use existing powers with a lighter touch.
Analysis Reducing administrative burdens imposed on business by local
councils is almost wholly uncontroversial. Controversy rating 1/5
Political Party Funding and Expenditure
Content Enact areas of agreement found in the cross-party review of
party funding by Sir Hayden Phillips before talks broke down last month. It
may extend limits of spending to periods outside election campaigns and
introduce a cap on individual donations except those from trade unions.
Under the draft agreement, total spending during a full parliament would
have been capped at £150 million. Sir Hayden also proposed a spending limit
of £20 million for general elections.
Analysis The issue of party funding is potentially explosive. David
Cameron served notice of the battles ahead yesterday when he accused Gordon
Brown of trying to “fix” the election. Controversy rating 5/5
Health and Social Care
Content Creates a new regulator, the Care Quality Commission, to police
health and social services provision. toughening protection of patients and
hospital inspections.
Analysis Although support for the commission is broad, there is likely
to be fierce debates over whether its budget is big enough. Controversy
rating 3/5
Other Bills
Constitutional Renewal Gordon Brown’s big idea for a new constitutional
settlement will come forward as a draft Bill in January
Citizenship and Immigration Awaiting review by Lord Goldsmith, former
Attorney-General. May mean English lessons and community work are required
to earn citizenship. Draft Bill will follow
Marine New planning controls for offshore wind farms
Crossrail Creates legal powers for the construction and maintenance of
the cross-London rail service
Apprenticeships Creates entitlement for 16 to 18-year-olds to serve an
apprenticeship
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Dismantles Child Support Agency in
favour of system encouraging estranged parents to make their own maintenance
agreements
National Insurance Contributions Raises the upper earnings limit for NI
so that it is line with income tax
Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Supplementary Provisions) Clarifies the legal
status of the company that owns the link.
EC Finance Gives effect to changes to the EU budget agreed in 2005.
Employment New procedure for resolving industrial disputes
Cultural Property (Armed Conflict), Draft Ratifies a 1954 convention on
the return of Nazi loot
Heritage Protection, Draft Reforms and unifies heritage protection
regimes
Student Loans Enables the sell-off the Government’s loan book.
Marine Navigation Bill Increase safety in ports
