Labour mounts pre-election legislative push

The government has announced its legislative plans for the last full session of parliament before the next general election.

The coming year will see a wide range of new laws aimed at combating asylum abuses and modernising student finance, education and the courts system.

In total there are 24 bills, two of which were introduced during the last session, and seven draft bills.

Commons leader Peter Hain said the speech showed the government still had "a lot of dynamism".

"Any idea that this government's running out of steam is completely rejected by the very important flagship Bills we have got," he said.

At the centrepiece of the agenda, detailed by the Queen in parliament, are plans to toughen the asylum appeals process and reform university finance.

Also on the agenda is a Housing Bill designed to protect tenants from "bad landlords" and legislation to give people more pension rights and protect pension schemes when firms go to the wall.

Draft legislation to prevent discrimination against the disabled also appears, along with plans to overhaul company and audit law and the energy sector.

With the Conservatives sharpening their act under their new leadership, Labour hopes to stake a claim for the Middle England vote while maintaining its appeal in the heartlands and amongst younger voters.

Cabinet heavyweight John Reid toured the radio and TV studios this morning in a bid to talk up the government's agenda.

He denied the speech lacked the big ideas seen in the early years of the Labour government.

"We have always been prepared to take the decisions which are tough in the short term in order to secure the long-term future of the country," he said.

"This is not only a very full Queen's Speech, with a number of bills in it, but it is also one which I believe is very forward looking, it is taking decisions for the future of the country and it is very fair.''

Featuring strongly over the coming 12 months are new laws to boost child protection - through a new Children's Bill - which will create a children's commissioner for England.

Key entitlements for same sex couples will be introduced through a Civil Partnerships Bill.

Plans to give more help and support to the victims of crime will also appear in the form of a Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill.

Controversial plans to introduce university top-up fees also feature in today's announcement and appear set to become the flashpoint of the session.

In her address the Queen said: "A bill will be introduced to enable more young people to benefit from higher education. Upfront tuition fees will be abolished for all full-time students and a new Office For Fair Access will assist those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Universities will be placed on a sound financial footing."

It is thought that the government will make a series of concessions for students from poorer backgrounds in order to prevent a massive Commons rebellion.

Over 130 Labour MPs have already signed a Commons early day motion opposing the plan.

Proposals to introduce compulsory ID cards were included but have been watered down - the draft bill commits the government to an "incremental approach".

The government's plans to give ministers new powers to issue emergency directives to combat terrorism also appeared in the speech in the form of a Civil Contingencies Bill.

Under the legislation the government will be given new powers to respond to a "catastrophic" incident.

A radical overhaul of the legal system will be introduced through new legislation to establish a supreme court to replace the UK's law lords.

Ministers hope the Queen's Speech will prove the government is intent on tackling problems such as asylum abuse and the treatment of crime victims.

The government insists the speech focuses on issues such as "safer communities" and "democratic change".

But they will also stress that the government has a duty to make tough choices in areas such as higher education if longer term problems are to be avoided.

And there are some tricky times ahead for the government's business managers.

Whilst the Queen announced that her government will act to remove hereditary peers, there was no mention of the future of fox-hunting in her address.

The fate of the 92 remaining birthright peers appears settled but the Tories and Liberal Democrats in the Lords could oppose the move unless there is a firmer commitment to further reform.

On the issue of hunting some predict the government may buy time before making a firm commitment to reintroduce the legislation.

Labour MPs, however, believe the measure will make a return as a payback for their support for foundation hospitals last week.

But fears that the legislation could be challenged in the European courts are said to have added to senior ministers' unease.

Plans to establish a new offence of corporate killing appear to have been dropped following disagreement about how to frame the legislation.

Legislation creating new powers to indefinitely detain those with severe personality disorders have also been dropped following a human rights backlash.

Instead health secretary John Reid will publish further draft legislation "as soon as possible".

MPs on all sides of the House accept that the coming session of parliament will be important for all the key parties.

The media will pore over the government's plans in search of the "big idea" of the seventh Queen's Speech under Tony Blair.

But many expect that to come later in the week when the prime minister launches his "Prospectus" consultation document.

In that Blair is expected to admit to real problems facing Britain and will call for a nationwide consultation on the next phase of reform.

In a party political broadcast last night the prime minister called on the public to debate the issues.

"Britain is changing for the better. The economy is strong, schools and hospitals are improving. Crime is falling," he said.

"But I know we can do even better. So we want to begin a conversation with you about how... we can make the future fair... for everyone."

Trade unions said the content of the speech represented a mixed bag and a missed opportunity.

Kevin Curran, general secretary of the GMB, said: "There is very little in the speech for GMB members and they will be disappointed by yet another missed opportunity by their government.

"While we welcome many of the small but significant changes the government is planning, the only really radical agenda they are pushing forward is top-up fees for which they have no one's support."

With the next general election expected in May 2005, today's Queen's Speech has kicked off what is likely to be the last full session of this parliament.

The next time MPs gather "in another place" to hear the government's plans, they will firmly be in election mode.