Government's Legislative Programme 2012-13 (Scotland)

Michael Moore Excerpts

Thursday 10th May 2012 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Scotland (Michael Moore)]

The legislative programme for the Second Session was outlined by Her Majesty on Wednesday 9 May.

The Government remain committed to reducing the deficit and restoring economic stability. This programme of legislation will focus on ensuring economic growth across the United Kingdom including Scotland.

We will implement important reforms of the banking system to promote a competitive economy and protect and sustain jobs. These reforms will also reduce risk in the system to help guard against a repeat of the financial crisis and provide greater stability in our banking system.

The Government will reform the energy market to help create a sustainable and greener energy future as well as supporting the transition to a greener economy with the creation of the new United Kingdom Green Investment Bank.

We will implement regulatory reform to reduce burdens on business and will take forward measures to reform the pensions system to make it fair and financially sustainable. We will create greater choice and flexibility for parents in how they share the care of their child in the first year, helping both parents to achieve a better work and family balance. A Groceries Adjudicator Bill will ensure large supermarkets treat their suppliers fairly and lawfully.

We will continue to take forward measures to renew the constitution of the United Kingdom by reforming the composition of the House of Lords, making the registration system for electors more secure and working toward the end of the male bias in succession to the Crown.

In this Session we will protect freedom of speech and strengthen the oversight of the security and intelligence agencies and bring forward important measures to prevent and reduce organised crime.

This statement provides a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its application to Scotland. It does not include draft Bills. Fourteen of the 15 new Bills mentioned in the Queen’s Speech for this Session of Parliament contain provisions that apply in Scotland, either in full or in part.

In addition to the Government Bills listed here we will seek to support the Scottish Law Commission in bringing forward measures to reform the law in relation to Scottish Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations.

The Government are committed to the principles of the Sewel convention. As in the First Session of this Parliament, we will work with the Scottish Government to secure consent for Bills that contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament.

The Bills listed in section 1 will apply to Scotland, either in full or in part. The Bill listed in section 2 will not apply in Scotland.

Section 1: Legislation applying to the United Kingdom, including Scotland (either in full or in part);

Crime and Courts

Families and Children

Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Justice and Security

EU (Approval of Treaty Amendment Decision)

EU (Croatian accession)

Electoral Registration and Administration Bill

Public Service Pensions

House of Lords Reform

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Small Donations

Pensions

Banking Reform

Energy

Section 2: Legislation that will not apply in Scotland

Defamation