PM Brown outlines legislative programme: housing, education, health & social care

[Sapphire Blue]

Brown outlines legislative programme
Deborah Summers and agencies
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Guardian Unlimited


Gordon Brown in the Commons today. Photograph: PA

Gordon Brown today pledged to build 3m new houses by 2020 as he broke with centuries of tradition and gave MPs a preview of the Queen's speech.

Unveiling a blueprint for his first year in power, the prime minister put housing at the top of the political agenda as he announced plans for three new bills to tackle the shortage of affordable homes.

In a Commons statement lasting less than 10 minutes, Mr Brown also indicated that education and the health service would be priorities in the Queen's speech this autumn.

(snip)

Announcing new laws to overhaul the planning system and to encourage local authorities to provide more affordable housing, Mr Brown demanded a 25% increase in the number of new homes being built over the next 13 years, bring the total to 3m by 2020.

(snip)

In other measures, Mr Brown said that a new educational opportunity bill will require all young people to stay in education and training until the age of 18, while a pensions bill will require all employers to provide staff pension schemes.

The Queen's speech will also include a health and social care bill and a children in care bill as well as introducing new measures in the criminal justice bill which will be carried over into the next parliament.

And a constitutional reform bill will include measures to limit or surrender royal prerogative powers exercised by ministers - such as the power to make war.


Continued @ http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gordonbrown/story/0,,2123591,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Limit the power to make war

that would be nice to have here in the US as well.

[Sapphire Blue]

2. Indeed it would.

The more that I learn about Brown, the more I like him!