Kings Speech: Key announcements and programme for government
The King’s Speech is prepared by the UK Government and delivered by the Monarch at the State Opening of Parliament.
It marks the beginning of a new parliamentary session and is an opportunity for the new UK Government to set out its legislative agenda for the coming months. His Majesty King Charles II delivered it on 17th June at Westminster.
Key announcements for our sector include:
Economy and Employment – A new bill will strengthen the role of the of Office of Budget Responsibility with the intention that fiscal announcements are properly scrutinised and taxed money is respected. Employment Rights Bill, which will be introduced within the first 100 days plans to enhance employment rights. Ministers will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire and introduce basic employment rights. The Government also intends to remove the age bands so that all adult workers on the National Living wage receive the same amount.
Public Health – A new bill will be introduced to progressively increase the age that people will legally be able to buy cigarettes so Children born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be able to legally be sold cigarettes. It will impose limits on the sale and marketing of vapes [Tobacco and Vapes Bill]. The Bill will extend UK-wide, although the application of the measures will vary across the UK.
Ministers will also legislate to restrict the advertising of junk food to children along with the sale of high caffeine energy drinks to children (the responsibility for age of sale and restrictions in-store placement and promotion of products remains devolved to the Scottish Government).
Energy - Legislation will be developed to achieve energy independence. A new bill will set up Great British Energy, a publicly owned company, which will be headquartered in Scotland and will own, manage and operate clean power projects.
Cooperation - Devolution of powers will continue to progress, and the UK Government will seek to work closely with devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A bill will be introduced to move power out of Westminster back to local representatives. Ministers will work to improve trade and investment relations with the European Union.
Crime - Enhanced counter-terrorism powers will be delivered to tackle organised immigration crime (including Martyn’s Law), for example England and Wales will also introduce a bill similar to the Protection of Workers Act in Scotland by creating a new specific offence of assaulting a shopworker
The UK government has also added a page ‘Ten things to know from the King’s speech’. You can find this here (Includes reserved issues which do not impact Scotland).
The background briefing notes can be found here.
SGF will continue to engage with the UK Government and members of the House of Commons on the key issues that impact our Sector. These include several matters not raised in the King Speech, such as the Deposit Return Scheme & Extended Producer Responsibility, the National Living Wage, Corporation Tax and Access to Cash.