Government's Legislative Programme 2012-13

Thursday 10th May 2012 Written Statements

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir George Young)]

Following yesterday’s State Opening of Parliament, and for the convenience of the House, I am listing below 15 Bills which the Government intend to bring forward in the current Session:

Banking Reform Bill

Children and Families Bill

Crime and Courts Bill

Croatia Accession Bill

Defamation Bill

Electoral Registration and Administration Bill

Energy Bill

Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill

European Union (Approval of Treaty Amendment Decision) Bill

Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill

House of Lords Reform Bill

Justice and Security Bill

Pensions Bill

Public Service Pensions Bill

Small Donations Bill

In addition, a draft Care and Support Bill, a draft Local Audit Bill, a draft Water Bill and a draft Communications Data Bill were included in the Queen’s Speech. The Government intend to bring forward measures to maintain the ability of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access vital communications data under strict safeguards to protect the public, subject to scrutiny of draft clauses. Other draft measures for pre-legislative scrutiny will be published in the course of the session.

The Government also intend to bring forward a Scottish Law Commission Bill on Scottish Unincorporated Associations and Partnerships, if parliamentary time allows.

Following the resolution of the House of 13 October 2011, which invited me and the Procedure Committee to put in place a pilot scheme for explanatory statements on amendments to Bills, I will write shortly to the chair of the Procedure Committee with proposals for such a pilot in respect of two Bills to be introduced early in this session. I hope to make a further announcement soon.

Following the pilot for public reading stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill in the last Session, I intend to bring forward proposals for a further pilot in respect of at least one Bill in the course of this Session. I will make a further announcement in due course.

Detailed information about each of these Bills can be accessed from the Number 10 website at: www.number10. gov.uk/queens-speech-2012.