Queen's Speech — Programme of Legislation — 26 May 2016 at 16:50

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the government's programme of legislation as set out in the Queen's Speech and to express regret that a Bill to protect the National Health Service from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was not included in the Gracious Speech.

The debate on the content of the government's legislative programme outlined Queens' speech is technically, and traditionally, on the subject of a message of thanks which the house is to send the monarch for making the speech.

The motion originally under consideration was:

• That an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, as follows:
• Most Gracious Sovereign,
• We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Majesty for the Gracious Speech which Your Majesty has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

Prior to this vote MPs had unanimously agreed^[1] to add the following to the end of the proposed message:

• but respectfully regret that a Bill to protect the National Health Service from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was not included in the Gracious Speech.

Those voting to send the letter of thanks to the monarch can presumably be inferred to be supportive of the measures laid out in the Queen's Speech which included:

• bringing the public finances under control so that Britain lives within its means, and to move to a higher wage and lower welfare economy where work is rewarded.
• legislation to ensure Britain has the infrastructure that businesses need to grow.
• a right for every household to access high-speed broadband.
• improving Britain’s competitiveness and make the United Kingdom a world leader in the digital economy.
• ensuring the United Kingdom is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles.
• supporting the development of a Northern Powerhouse.
• giving to devolved powers to directly elected mayors in England, including powers governing local bus services.
• allowing local authorities to retain business rates.
• building a million new homes.
• tackling corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.
• delivering NHS services over seven days of the week in England.
• ensuring that children can be adopted by new families without delay
• improving the standard of social work and opportunities for young people in care in England.
• establishing a soft drinks industry levy to help tackle childhood obesity.
• helping the lowest-income families save, through a new Help to Save scheme, and to create a Lifetime ISA to help young people save for the long-term
• supporting the establishment of new universities and to promote choice and competition across the higher education sector.
• reforming prisons and courts to give individuals a second chance.
• ensuring better mental health provision for individuals in the criminal justice system.
• working to bring communities together and strengthen society.
• preventing radicalisation, tackle extremism in all its forms, and promote community integration.
• placing the National Citizen Service on a permanent statutory footing.
• investing in Britain’s Armed Forces, honouring the military covenant and meeting the NATO commitment to spend two per cent of national income on defence.
• acting to secure the long-term future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
• tackling climate change and address major international security, economic and humanitarian challenges.
• working to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and play a leading role in the campaign against Daesh and to support international efforts to bring peace to Syria through a lasting political settlement.
• modernising the law governing the use and oversight of investigatory powers by law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies.
• strengthening the capability and accountability of the police service in England and Wales.
• bringing in a British Bill of Rights.
• implementing the extensive new powers in the Scotland Act and establishing a strong and lasting devolution settlement in Wales.
• working in Northern Ireland to secure further progress in implementing the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.

At the time of the vote details of many of the items of proposed legislation were not available. Background briefing notes^[2] were published which provide a more detail than was contained in the speech itself.

[This vote is considered, by mySociety, to be in essence a vote of confidence in the Government, so does not impact statements on MPs' policy positions]

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• [1] House of Commons, Official Record, 26 May 2016
• [2] Queen’s Speech 2016: background briefing notes, Cabinet Office and Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street 27 May 2015

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