14 May 2008
The Prime Minister has highlighted economic stability and personalisation of public services as priorities for Government action in the next Parliamentary session.
- Watch the statement - Windows Media Player (new window)
- Read the transcript
- Your Voice - have your say on the proposals (new window)
Delivering the Government’s Draft Legislative Programme - a list of Bills to be brought before Parliament - in the House of Commons today, the PM said he wished to make Britain "a fairer, more prosperous society". Mr Brown said his first priority was to "help family finances" in light of rising food and fuel prices and the effect of the credit crunch on mortgages.
The Prime Minister outlined a number of Bills on the economy, education, health and community empowerment to be presented in November’s Queen’s Speech.
The Banking Bill and the Savings Bill will give better protection to depositors and boost home ownership among people on low incomes through measures such as shared equity schemes and a £200 million fund to purchase unsold homes.
The Education Bill will aim to do away with underperforming schools, promote lifelong learning for adults through further education and grant statutory rights that will see the number of apprenticeships for young people rise to 210,000 by 2011 from 65,000 in 1998.
On health, a new NHS Reform Bill will establish an NHS constitution that sets out entitlements to minimum standards of access, quality and safety and also grant patients new rights to obtain information about their care.
The Community Empowerment Bill will give people greater power to influence local decisions - local spending decisions, local council agendas, the use of local assets - that affect them, marking a "major shift of power directly to citizens themselves".
Full details of all the proposed Bills, along with related video clips, can be seen on the Draft Legislative Programme website (new window).
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