2021-05-14 16:05:00
Queen's Speech 2021: Key points at-a-glance
The Queen has outlined the government's priorities for the year ahead, as she officially reopened Parliament.
In a ten-minute speech in the House of Lords, she highlighted 30 laws that ministers intend to pass in the coming year.
This includes a number of bills carried over from the previous "session" of Parliament, which ended in April.
It also includes a number of bills included in past Queen's Speeches. Here is a summary of the main points.
Infrastructure and 'levelling up'
A Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill will extend 5G mobile coverage and introduce new safety standards for digital devices
A Subsidy Control Bill will set out post-Brexit regulations on how the government can support private companies, now the UK has left the EU's "state aid" regime
Another post-Brexit piece of legislation, the Procurement Bill, will replace EU rules on how the government buys services from the private sector
Tax breaks for employers based in eight freeports to be set up in England later this year will be included in a National Insurance Contributions Bill
A new UK agency to search for ground-breaking scientific discoveries will be established by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
New powers to build and operate the next stage of the HS2 high-speed rail line are contained in the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill
Government support for veterans will be outlined in an Armed Forces Bill, putting the so-called Armed Forces Covenant into law
New powers for the police over protests, and new sentences for serious crimes, are in the controversial Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
A draft Victims Bill will create new rights for the victims of crime, including new standards on support offered to sexual and domestic victims
Constitutional reform
A Skills and Post-16 Education Bill will introduce a new "flexible loan" system designed to promote wider participation in further education in England
The Environment Bill, whose passage through Parliament has been repeatedly delayed, will introduce new post-Brexit rules on protecting nature
The speech set out plans for a consultation on introducing a legal ban on so-called gay conversion therapy in England and Wales.
It follows the publication of a government-commissioned race report earlier this year, which was heavily criticised by equality campaigners.
What is conversion therapy and will it be banned?
What wasn't in the speech?
The speech said the government would bring forward measures to reform the operation of the social care system in England.
But it did not commit the government to introducing a specific bill to overhaul how the sector is funded.
Reports suggest that discussions are ongoing within government about the potential cost of changes, which could run into the billions.
The lack of a new bill in the speech has been criticised by opposition politicians and care groups.
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