The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) hears evidence from Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The session is the Committee’s regular annual survey of the work of the Ombudsman. Watch from 10am.

• Video and audio: Work of the Ombudsman 2008-09 evidence session
• Public Administration Committee
• PHS Ombudsman, Annual Report 2008-09

The witnesses are:

• Ann Abraham, PHS Ombudsman
• Bill Richardson, Deputy Chief Executive
• Kathryn Hudson, Deputy Ombudsman

The PHSO and her office exist to provide a service to the public by undertaking independent investigations into complaints that government departments, a range of other public bodies in the UK, and the NHS in England have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service.

Topics that the hearing may cover include:

• The performance of the Office of the PHSO
• The recent transition to a new NHS complaints system
• The performance of the public bodies investigated by the PHSO
• The constitutional position of the PHSO

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/parliamentary-and-health-services-ombu...

More news on: Benefits administration, Benefits policy, Committees, Commons business, Parliamentary Business, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Social security and pensions

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/benefits-system-evidence-session/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/default.stm

How should the Government deal with the current financial and banking crisis? Is taxpayers’ money used in the most cost-effective way? Does the Government do enough to help first-time buyers? How should Britain pay for an ageing population?

These are just some of the issues debated and discussed by MPs and Members of the Lords every session. Use this topical issues page on the economy and finance to find out more about what Parliament is doing on this issue.

	The Standing Orders of the House of Lords relating to Public Business
	The Standing Orders of the House of Lords relating to Private Business
	Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords
	Guide for Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen
	House of Lords Annual reports
	House of Lords Business Plans
	List of Members
	Register of Hereditary Peers
	House of Lords Resource Accounts
	Register of Lords Interests
	Register of Interests of Lords Members' Staff
	Peers’ Reimbursement Allowance Scheme
	Sessional Papers
	Staff Handbook
	Sessional Statistics on Business and Membership
	House of Lords Judgments: archive
	Hansard (House of Lords Debates)
	Select Committee reports
	Minutes and Order Papers
	Minutes and Order Papers Archive
	House of Lords Journal
	Private Bills before Parliament
	Public Bills before Parliament
	Public Bill Statistics
	Lords Divisions Analysis

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldpubns.htm

The Health Committee holds the latest evidence session in its inquiry into the future of social care services with, amongst others, the union UNISON and Lady Young, Chair of the Care Quality Commission. Watch live from 10am.

• Video and audio evidence session: Social care
• Health Committee

The witnesses are:

10am

• Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair of the Care Quality Commission
• UNISON

11.15am

• General Social Care Council
• Skills for Care

The Committee decided to inquire into the future of social care services following the publication earlier this year of the Government's Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together. The inquiry is looking at options for:

• future funding of long-term residential and domiciliary care for older people and people with physical or learning disabilities
• personalisation of social care services
• more effective, consistent and user-friendly social care services

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/committee-continues-inquiry-into-futur...

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

13 Bills became Acts of Parliament (law) on 12 November and are the final Bills enacted during the 2008-09 parliamentary session.

• Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
• Autism Bill
• Coroners and Justice Bill
• Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill
• Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill
• Health Bill
• Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Bill
• Law Commission Bill
• Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill
• Marine and Coastal Access Bill
• Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill
• Policing and Crime Bill
• Welfare Reform Bill

Royal Assent for each Bill took place during the prorogation announcement in the House of Lords Chamber.

• Lords Hansard: Royal Assent
• Parliament News: Prorogation: end of parliamentary year
• Passage of a Bill: Royal Assent

Royal Assent is usually notified to each House separately and, once given Royal Assent, the Bills become Acts of Parliament.

At prorogation (the formal end to a parliamentary year), Black Rod interrupts the proceedings of the Commons and summons MPs to the Lords Chamber to hear the Lords Commissioners announce Royal Assent for each Bill.

After Royal Assent

The legislation within the Bill may commence immediately, after a set period or only after a commencement order by a Government minister.

A commencement order is designed to bring into force the whole or part of an Act of Parliament at a date later than the date of the Royal Assent.

If there is no commencement order, the Act will come into force from midnight at the start of the day of the Royal Assent.

The practical implementation of an Act is the responsibility of the appropriate government department, not Parliament.

Further information

• Acts
• Acts of the UK Parliament and Explanatory Notes (Office of the Public Sector Information website)

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/royal-assent-12-november-2009/

http://www.local.gov.uk/lgv2/core/page.do?pageId=90241

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/localgovernment

Here is an at-a-glance list of the bills outlined in the 2009 Queen's Speech programme:

Bribery Bill

Makes it illegal to bribe a foreign official to obtain or retain business. Makes it an offence if businesses fail to prevent a bribe being paid by their employees or by other firms on their behalf. Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Child Poverty Bill

Puts into law the government's commitment to end child poverty by 2020. Ensures the government must make annual reports to Parliament on the success of its strategies to end child poverty. Duty on all local authorities to deal with the problem. Whole bill applies to England. Some parts also apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Children, Schools and Families Bill

Offers pupil and parent guarantees for standards of education. Schools to be given "report cards". Promises "greater flexibility" for primary schools to set their own curriculums. Also ensures that all young people receive at least one year of sex and relationships education. Home educators will have to be registered and inspected. A review of the publication of family proceedings in court. Whole bill applies to England. Other parts cover Wales and extends in part to Northern Ireland.

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill

Makes it an offence to use, produce, develop, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer cluster munitions. Applies to whole UK.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

Creates basis in law for Parliament to scrutinise treaties. Ends the by-election of hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords. Provides for disqualification of peers convicted of serious offences or subject to a bankruptcy order. Allows peers to resign peerages. Repeals legislation limiting protests around Parliament. Generally extends to whole UK.

Crime and Security Bill

Introduces mandatory assessment of parenting needs when 10 to 15-year-olds are considered for an ASBO. Reduces the amount of information police need to record when carrying out stop and search. Gives police the power to bar suspected domestic violence offenders from their homes for a period, even when not charged. Brings in a legal requirement to store air guns safely. Makes it an offence to take a mobile phone into a prison without permission. Introduces compulsory licensing for all wheel-clamping businesses. DNA records of adults who are arrested but not charged are to be held on database for six years. Allows police to take DNA samples and fingerprints of sexual and seriously violent offenders returning to UK following conviction overseas. Most aspects of the bill apply to England and Wales only.

Digital Economy Bill

Gives media regulator Ofcom the duty to assess the UK's communications infrastructure every two years. Updates regulations to make the digital radio switchover possible by 2015. Makes age ratings compulsory on all video games designed for children aged 12 and above. Promises to tackle infringement of copyright more effectively. Updates regulations for Channel 4, so it has to put public service content on its websites. Extends to whole UK.

Energy Bill

Sets rules for energy firms to provide support- such as rebates - for poorer customers, with regulator Ofgem having a duty to "proactively" protect them. Supports the construction of up to four carbon capture and storage schemes to cut pollution. Applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

Equality Bill

Gives the whole public sector a duty to "narrow the gap between rich and poor". Bans age discrimination outside the workplace - such as when buying goods and services like healthcare. Business with more than 250 employees will have to report on gender differences on pay. Strengthens powers of employment tribunals. Public bodies should use £200bn of public procurement deals at their disposal to "drive equality" in private sector firms. Covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Financial Services Bill

Establishes a Council for Financial Stability, chaired by the chancellor, and comprising Treasury, Bank of England and Financial Services Authority (FSA). Strengthens the FSA to take "action" on pay of those in financial services, following the recent outcry over bonuses. Promises action, in UK and internationally, on bankers' pay. Makes banks and other financial firms set up "living will" to make them easier to wind down in the event of a crisis. Bans unsolicited credit card cheques and enables the setting up of national money guidance service. Allows groups of consumers to bring court actions against financial institutions. Applies to whole UK.

Fiscal Responsibility Bill

Provides a "firm and binding statutory basis" for the government's promise to halve its budget deficit within four years. Gives Parliament power to approve medium-term fiscal plans. Promises that businesses and investors will have "certainty" about the government's fiscal plans. Applies to whole UK.

Flood and Water Management Bill

Following the floods of summer 2007, which caused £3bn of damage, gives local authorities the responsibility to deal with surface water flooding. Sustainable drainage systems will have to be considered for new building developments. Says the safety of communities near reservoirs must be improved, via risk-based regulation. Gives water companies more power to control customers' usage during droughts. Applies to England and Wales.

Personal Care at Home Bill

Guarantees free personal care for the 280,000 people with the "highest needs", such as those with serious dementia or Parkinson's disease. Protects the savings of the 166,000 people who currently get free care, saving them from having to pay future charges. Promises to help 130,000 people needing to enter care homes for the first time to "regain their independence". Offers adaptations to the neediest people's homes to increase their independence. Applies to England only.

DRAFT BILLS

House of Lords Reform Bill

Promises that the Lords will be between 80% and 100% elected. States the government should not hold a majority in the second chamber and its members must be independent. Applies to whole UK.

International Development Spending Bill

Requires that 0.7% of gross national income is spent on development from 2013. Applies to whole UK.

NOT INCLUDED

Some bills in the government's Draft Programme of legislation, outlined in June, have not been included in the Queen's Speech programme.

These are:

A Housing Bill, trebling the housing budget to £2.1bn and setting a target of building 110,000 new homes in England and Wales over two years.

A Jobs Bill, guaranteeing people under 25 who are unemployed for a year the guarantee of a job or training.

A Health Bill, guaranteeing cancer patients in England a consultation within two weeks, a free health check for all over-40s and that no-one will have to wait more than 18 months between a GP referral and hospital treatment.

Several draft bills proposed in June are also not included. These are: the Antarctica Bill, the Immigration Simplification Bill, the Civil Law Reform Bill and the Animal Health and Responsibility and Cost-Sharing Bill.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8365163.stm

The government has defended its decision not to include legislation in the Queen's Speech on MPs' expenses.

The Conservatives accused Gordon Brown of lacking courage on the issue, and Sir Christopher Kelly, who proposed the reforms, said he was "disappointed".

But employment minister Jim Knight said the government had already introduced legislation on expenses during the summer.

If any new legislation were needed it would be passed, he added.

Mr Knight told BBC Breakfast: "We did legislate very quickly over the summer to set up the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and that legislation gives us all of the powers we need to tackle all of the things in respect of MPs' expenses."

'Clean sheet'

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said the government had "given control of the process away" in order to end hundreds of years of self-regulation.

"It is extraordinary for me for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to now be suggesting that MPs take back control of this process. The whole point is we've given control of the process away," he said.

PLANNED NEW LAWS Fiscal Responsibility Bill - put into law promise to halve deficit Financial Services and Business Bill - clamp down on bonuses for bankers taking too many risks The Flood and Water Management Bill - give councils powers to prevent floods Social Care Bill - neediest elderly to get home care Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill - DNA of more sex offenders added to database Children, Schools and Families Bill - Guarantees school standards and extra help pupils who fall behind Energy Bill - give Ofgem more powers to act on behalf of customers over prices Bribery Bill - make it offence to bribe foreign officials and for business to fail to prevent bribery Digital Economy Bill - set up fund to bring in universal broadband by 2012 Cluster Munitions Prohibition Bill - ratify international ban on cluster bombs Brown draws election battle lines At-a-glance: Bill-by-bill Analysis: Electioneering speech? Send us your comments Brown to offer more graduate help

Sir Christopher - chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life - said legislation was required to strengthen the role and powers of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which will authorise all expenses claims in the future.

"The committee believes it is very important that the new Parliament starts with a clean sheet," he said.

"There is no reason why the relatively straightforward legislation needed in this area should prevent the new regulatory body from getting other important changes under way."

No 10 said it believed no new laws were needed to introduce the main changes to what MPs can claim - changes which have already been accepted by all parties - but would consider legislation if necessary.

Tory leader David Cameron said there were 11 separate measures that still need to be passed into law in order to implement the Kelly report - including one to take away from MPs the power to set their own pay and pensions.

He told BBC Breakfast that it was significant that the Queen's Speech, which sets out the government's whole programme, made no mention of expenses measures.

So, he said, it was "progress" that Labour had now given assurances that any legislation necessary would be brought forward

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also said new legislation was needed, specifically to force MPs to disclose their financial interests.

'Waste of time'

Labour is widely regarded to have used the Queen's Speech, unveiled amid typical pageantry at Westminster, to draw the battle lines for the upcoming election, which must be held by next June.

Among the 13 bills announced were measures to penalise excessive risk taking in the City, to provide new pupil entitlements, to give free personal care to about 400,000 pensioners and to require the government to halve the budget deficit in the next Parliament.

The Queen's Speech did not include a Bill on expenses

Ministers denied the proposals amounted to a virtual election manifesto, saying they were putting national interests ahead of party interests.

They also challenged the opposition parties to say whether they backed certain key policies such as guaranteed consultation times for cancer patients and new legal rights for parents.

But the Tories said the paucity of proposals showed Labour had run out of "money, time and ideas".

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, labelled Labour's agenda a "fantasy" and said it was a "waste of time" as half of the proposals would never make it into law.

'Demolition job'

Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said ministers should be focusing on a "narrow" set of much-needed political reforms and not get "bogged down" trying to pass new laws where it already had powers to act.

The £670m plan to give free care to the elderly was also criticised on Thursday by Labour peer Lord Lipsey, a former member of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care.

He told the Times newspaper that it amounted to "a demolition job on the national budget".

But Mr Bradshaw denied this was the case, adding: "It's a very, very small part of the National Health Service budget of £120 billion."

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the Queen's Speech had felt like the opening salvo of an election campaign with ministers keen to spell out the big choices facing the electorate.

But he added there had been little mention of issues likely to dominate the campaign such as future spending cuts and the war in Afghanistan.

Should a general election be held on 6 May, on the same day as local elections, it is estimated that the Commons would have about 46 days available for legislating before Parliament is dissolved.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8367429.stm

http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/

The Leader of the House of Commons (Ms Harriet Harman): Listed below are those Bills which the Government intend to bring forward in the current session. Details of each of these Bills are available from the Leader of the House of Commons website: www.CommonsLeader.gov.uk/Legislation:

1) Bribery

2) Children, Schools and Families

3) Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions)

4) Crime and Security

5) Digital Economy

6) Energy

7) Financial Services

8) Fiscal Responsibility

9) Flood and Water Management

10) Northern Ireland Assembly Members

11) Personal Care at Home

Carry-over Bills

1) Child Poverty

2) Constitutional Reform and Governance

3) Equality

Draft Bills for consideration in the 5th Session

1) Animal Health Responsibility and Cost Sharing

2) Antarctic^*

3) Civil Law Reform^**

4) House of Lords Reform

5) Immigration Simplification^*

6) International Development Spending

The Government’s response and summary of the consultation on the 2009–10 Draft Legislative Programme was laid before the House yesterday and is available from the Vote Office and the Leader of the House of Commons website: www.CommonsLeader.gov.uk

^*Previously announced and published in the 2008–09 (4th) session; for consideration in the 2009–10 (5th) session

^** Previously announced in the 2008–09 (4th) session and yet to be published; for consideration in the 2009–10 (5th) session

NORTHERN IRELAND

Legislative Programme (Northern Ireland)

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Shaun Woodward): The Fifth Session UK legislative programme unveiled in the Queen’s Speech on the 18 November contains measures of relevance to the people of Northern Ireland.

The following is a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its impact in Northern Ireland. It includes both new Bills that will be introduced in the current Session and Bills carried over from the last Session. It does not include draft Bills.

The list also identifies the lead Government Department.

The following Bills extend to Northern Ireland, in whole or in part, and deal

mainly with excepted or reserved matters. Discussions will continue between the

Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that where provisions that

are specifically for a transferred purpose are included in any of these Bills, the

consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be sought for them:

Bribery Bill (MoJ)

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill (MOD)

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (MoJ) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Crime and Security Bill (HO)

Fiscal Responsibility Bill (HMT)

It is intended that the following Bills will extend to Northern Ireland to

varying degrees. They require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly in

relation to those provisions in the devolved field:

Child Poverty Bill (Child Poverty Unit) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Equality Bill (Government Equalities Office) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Digital Economy Bill (DCMS)

Financial Services Bill (HMT)

Discussions will continue between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on Bills that might include provisions that require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The following Bills will have limited or no impact in Northern Ireland:

Children, Schools and Families Bill

Energy Bill

Flood and Water Management Bill

Personal Care at Home Bill

SCOTLAND

Legislative Programme (Scotland)

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): The legislative programme for the fifth Session was outlined on the 18 November. Eight of the 10 new Bills outlined in the Queen’s Speech in this final Session of the current Parliament contain provisions that apply to Scotland; once again this is a programme that will significantly benefit people living in Scotland.

In this Session the Government will focus on supporting the economy as we move from recession to recovery and we will take forward measures to support people living and working in our communities.

This statement provides a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its application to Scotland. This statement includes both new Bills that will be introduced shortly, and those Bills that are carrying-over from the last Session. It does not include draft Bills. The Bills listed in section 1 are likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament in line with the Sewel convention. A brief description is provided of the provisions likely to require consent. Section 2 details Bills that are not likely to contain provisions that require the consent of the Scottish Parliament, by way of a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM).

The list also identifies the lead Government Department:

1. UK Legislation likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament at introduction:

Discussions will continue between the Government and Scottish Ministers on Bills that might include provisions that trigger the Sewel convention. The Bills identified within the Queen’s Speech in this section are as follows:

Bribery (MoJ)—This Bill primarily relates to criminal law which is a devolved matter in Scotland. Following a consultation exercise in Scotland, Scottish Ministers have agreed that the best way to reform the law on bribery in Scotland is via an LCM extending full provisions of this Bill to Scotland.

Child Poverty Bill (HMT) (introduced in the 4th Session)—This Bill enshrines in law the Government’s commitment to end child poverty by 2020. Four indicators of child poverty are identified by this Bill. An LCM is required in order to extend the commitment to those matters that are within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Constitutional Reform and Governance (MoJ) (introduced in the 4th Session)—The majority of the provisions in the Bill extend to Scotland and Bill aims to rebuild trust in our democratic and constitutional settlement by reinforcing the principles of transparency, accountability and probity across Government. An LCM is required for provisions concerning requirements placed upon the Scottish Ministers in relation to the civil service and special advisors. An LCM is also required for the amendments concerning time-limits for human rights claims under the Human Rights and Devolution Acts.

Crime and Security (Home Office)—The majority of this Bill will not apply to Scotland, however provisions that give Scottish Ministers new powers to regulate the private security industry will require a LCM.

Energy Bill (DECC)—This Bill will commit the Government to developing the use of clean coal and help vulnerable households with their energy Bills. It will require an LCM for the provisions that relate to funding for up to four commercial-scale carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.

Equality Bill (GEO) (introduced in 4th Session)— Equal opportunities is a reserved matter. This Bill requires an LCM as it will amend the Scottish Ministers functions by allowing them to impose specific public sector duties on the Scottish public bodies for the three new strands.

Financial Services Bill (HMT)—The Bill will strengthen governance of the financial sector, control the system of rewards and ensure savers and lenders are fully protected. An LCM will be required for provisions relating to consumer education.

Flood and Water Management (DEFRA)—The Bill generally applies to England and Wales only but an LCM will be required for provisions relating to cross-border reservoir safety.

2. UK Legislation unlikely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the

Scottish Parliament at introduction:

Discussions will continue between the Government and Scottish Ministers to ensure that, if provisions relating to matters which trigger the Sewel convention are included in any of these Bills during their passage at Westminster, the consent of the Scottish Parliament will be sought for them in line with the Sewel convention:

Personal Care at Home Bill (DoH)

Children, Schools and Families Bill (DCSF)

Fiscal Responsibility (HMT)

Digital Economy (DCMS)

Cluster Munitions (FCO)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091119.htm#hddr_22