The Senior Citizen Party preview the Queen's Speech
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Thursday, 01, Nov 2007 12:00
The Senior Citizen Party preview the Queen's Speech
Child maintenance bill
This will amend the Child Support Act 1992 to simplify the assessment for child maintenance payments and strengthen enforcement.
The CSA was a complete and utter disaster which spent more money on administration than it raised for child support. We said at the time that instead of chasing absent fathers and asking them for money they should merely issue an "Attachment of Earnings (or Benefits) order and have done with it. This would have cost virtually nothing and been very effective.
Children in care bill
This bill will provide a regulatory framework to guarantee support for children in the care system.
They certainly need support but the real problem is the refusal of Social Services to take responsibility for their failures and the weakness of coroners who let them off. Whenever a child in care dies from neglect or abuse the Head of Social Services should be sacked as well as the officer involved. The buck stops at the top.
Climate change bill
This will set legally binding targets to reducing carbon emissions.
Once again the Government refuses to listen to anyone. We have suggested that they should remove all tax on biofuels and provide investment grants and tax incentives for the UK to produce its own bioethanol for petrol cars and biodiesel for diesels. There is currently no availability of E85 (85% biofuel) which is available throughout France and costs just over half the cost of petrol (which is cheaper than in the UK anyway !)
Constitutional reform bill
This would pass into law the prime minister's plans for constitutional reform.
We have published complete documents on this including on Proportional Representation, Party Funding, reform of the House of Lords, abolishing the two-tier system of Local Government etc etc, but there is no real indication that the Government is taking any of these things seriously.
Counter terrorism bill
The bill is part of wide reaching measures to improve the detection and policing of terrorism. It will bring in post-charge questioning and could introduce the use of intercept evidence.
We proposed a long time ago that the ridiculous rule which prohibits the police from questioning a subject after he has been charge should be abolished. It makes no sense at all in an age of organised crime and terrorism, and does not even exist in other European countries. Other countries also allow the use of telephone and email tapping as evidence in court. What is the point of making it legal - which it is - but then not allowing it to be used as evidence.?
Criminal justice bill
This sets out new powers to be added to the existing bill. The government wants to extend the period of pre-charge detention and toughen sentencing for terrorism related crimes.
We have always said that we have no objection to extending the period of pre-charge detention provided that the suspect appears before a judge once a week for confirmation, but if the ban on post-charge questioning is repealed it should not really be necessary.
Cross rail bill
This will push forward with the proposed Crossrail transport scheme, including its construction, maintenance and operation.
Agreed, this is long overdue. We should also have a Cross-Road Bill to extend the overhead section of the M4 from Chiswick to the M11 and M25 on the Eastern side of London. This would remove an enormous amount of congestion. Overhead motorways go right through cities in the USA so why not here ?
Educational opportunity bill
This will raise the school leaving age to 18 and improve skills to prepare school leavers for the workforce.
Agreed and again long overdue. As a teacher I supported ROSLA and taught the first batch of children who had to stay on until 16. The proviso, however, must be that they should go to an FE College from 16-18 if they need a vocational course. School Sixth Forms should be kept for academic courses leading to university entrance.
Employment simplification bill
This will simplify employment law and strengthen existing powers with an enhanced enforcement regime.
Anything which will simplify the current ludicrously complicated legislation must be a good thing !
Energy bill
The bill contains the government's commitment to nuclear power, as part of efforts to secure energy supplies and address climate change.
We are not totally opposed to nuclear power - France for example produces over 80% of its electricity with nuclear power and as far as we know they have never had any accidents. Safety, security against terrorists and storage of nuclear waster are all vitally important issues which need to be addressed.
European communities bill
Needed to amend the European Communities Act 1972.
Like 90% of the British population we demand a referendum on the "new" European Treaty, which is simply the old, failed European Constitution rewritten in incomprehensive legalese.
Health and social care bill
This bill is designed to put power for the health service in the hands of patients and staff and improve patient treatment.
But will it get rid of the postcode lottery, MRSA and NICE ?
Housing bill
The bill will create a Housing and Regeneration Agency to support house building and social housing. This will help the government build 3 million new homes by 2020.
We need more sheltered accommodation for Seniors who can then vacate their large family houses for use by large families, but at the moment the Governments "Affordable Housing" criteria excludes housing for seniors.
Human tissues and embryos bill
The bill will update the regulation of reproductive technologies and embryo research.
Probably a good thing.
Local transport bill
This continues efforts to address road congestion by improving public transport. It will grant local authorities the power to address local transport needs.
The Government needs to address road congestion by improving our completely outdated road system as the French have done with theirs. It is a real pleasure to drive in France. (And there are also numerous changes they could make that would cost virtually nothing eg increasing the maximum speed on motorways to the European norm of 130kph/80mph, switching traffic lights to flashing amber from 10pm to 6am, allowing left turns on red at traffic lights, removing the restrictions on employers proving parking places (which simply forces people to park in the streets thus causing more congestion) etc etc
National insurance contributions bill
This bill carries out the tax and benefit system reforms outlined in the 2007 Budget.
It needs to totally remove the cap on NI contributions which allows the rich to pay less than anyone else. Everyone should pay the same percentage of their income and this would provide another £8 billion a year for the NHS.
Pensions bill
This will carry out the reforms in the pensions white paper, including a pension scheme for all employees.
We still do not know how existing pensioners are going to be treated when the link with earnings is restored in 2010/2012. They should be repaid what has been effectively stolen from them since 1980 !
Planning gain supplement bill
This will enable local authorities to benefit from the increase in land values following full planning permission.
Good !
Planning reform bill
The bill is designed to streamline the planning process to speed up new projects.
Incredibly long overdue. It took seven years of planning enquiries before we could start on building Terminal 5 at Heathrow. The French build a new terminal at Charles de Gaulle Airport in a matter of months!
Regulatory enforcement and sanctions bill
This will establish the Local Better Regulation Office.
If this reduces our time and money consuming bureaucracy it will be very welcome - but we are sceptical!
Sale of students loans bill
The bill is designed to allow the secretary of state to sell off aspects of the student loan portfolio.
Agreed providing the interest rates are regulated to prevent finance companies exploiting students.