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| | |  Monday, November 15, 1999 Published at 15:22 GMT Special Report
Some of the traditions of the Queen's speech remained - including the opposition leader giving the prime minister a hard time. Queen's speech at a glance A full list of the Bills announced by the government for the next parliamentary session in the Queen's speech. Programme dominated by Lords reform Tony Blair's second parliamentary session includes a raft of key bills but will be marked by what has been omitted and the row over the Lords. Film star peers into parliament Film star Jamie Lee-Curtis has attended her first, and possibly her last, state opening of parliament as she joined peers' wives for the Queen's speech. The notable omissions Some government commitments are noteworthy because of their absence from the parliamentary schedule set out for the coming year. The Queen's speech in full The full text of the Queen's speech from the opening of parliament. Reign of e-commerce declared The UK Government says it aims to make Britain the best place in the world to trade online through its Electronic Commerce Bill. Blair hails Internet revolution The UK prime minister says the government is preparing Britain for a new commercial revolution brought about by the Internet. Tories: No measures to improve lives The Conservative Party chairman has attacked the Queen's speech for "containing no measures to improve people's lives". Food standards put on back burner The government's White Paper to establish an independent food standards agency is not part of this year's Queen's speech. Cautious welcome for gay sex at 16 Campaigners welcome plans to lower the gay age of consent but voice concern at outlawing sex between young people and adults in positions of trust. Welfare overhaul helps aged and disabled The government has announced plans for stakeholder pensions and help for the disabled as part of its package to reform the welfare state. Transport caught in a jam The Queen's speech says little about transport, squeezed out by the government's concentration on Lords reform. Hereditaries hear their fate confirmed The government will draw up a Bill to end the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. Asylum process faces reform The government has laid out a raft of measures to improve the asylum system and speed up the claims process for refugees. Speech heralds decentralisation of power The Queen's speech shows how power is being returned to the regions with virtually no mention of Scotland or Wales. Workers to be given more rights The government has included a Fairness at Work bill in its legislative programme for next year, giving the legal right to union recognistion for the first time ever. 'Far-reaching reform' for teachers Teachers' pay is set to be linked to performance, the Queen's speech has announced. Financial markets get stronger super regulator The Financial Services Authority will be given greater power, to create a safer environment for investors and tackle market abuse, in a move announced by the Queen at the state opening of parliament. State Opening loses some pomp Buckingham Place and the government have reduced the pomp surrounding the State Opening of Parliament. An idiot's guide to making laws Bills contained in the Queen's Speech must go through several stages before they can become law. The Queen's speech: Full coverage BBC News Online sets out the winners and losers in the Queen's speech, the political reaction and the changes that will affect people's lives. | | |       | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
