Legislation loses out to economy

GORDON BROWN took the axe to the Government's legislative programme as he cleared the decks to tackle the economic crisis.

The slimmed-down Queen's Speech of 14 Bills - including two carried forward - sparked speculation in December that the Prime Minister may have been preparing the ground for a general election. But it also led to accusations that MPs had been left with too little to do in Parliament. Proposed new laws in the legislative programme are the Banking Bill, Saving Gateway Accounts Bill, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, the Welfare Reform Bill, the Policing and Crime Bill, the Coroners and Justice Bill, the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill, the Equality Bill, the Child Poverty Bill, the Health Bill, the Children, Skills and Learning Bill, the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, the Political Parties and Elections Bill, and the Business Rates Supplements Bill.

Legislation dropped included the Heritage Protection Bill, the Communications Data Bill, the Geneva Conventions and UK Personnel Bill. Constitutional reforms to the Lords and to party funding were put on the back-burner, as was Justice Secretary Jack Straw's plans for a comprehensive Bill of Rights.