Housing
My Government will… introduce a Bill to retrofit our existing homes.
The Federation of Master Builders is largely positiveabout what it expects from today’s Queen’s Speech, eagerly anticipating an Apprenticeship and a Housing Bill, both of which will significantly benefit the construction industry.
It is less positive, however, about the possibility of firm commitments on improving the quality of existing housing stock, which the FMB sees as a vital way to meet the country’s carbon emission reduction targets.
My Government will… ensure those in greatest need are supported to find and keep a home.
Under the Coalition Government rough sleeping rose by 55%.
Homeless Link suggeststhat tackling the UK’s housing shortage is key to reversing this worrying trend.
Disability
The Conservatives have trumpeted their achievements on reducing unemployment over the past five years and have pledged to continue to make this a priority during the next term.
Scope would likethe employment of disabled people in the UK to play a central role in that endeavour.
The charity is looking to narrow the gap between the employment rate for disabled people and the rate for rest of the population which has, for over a decade, been around 30%. Achieving this will require extra help with costs and other methods of support, which the organisation hopes will feature in any ‘Jobs Bill’ that forms part of today’s address.
My Government will… do more to ensure all legislation and policy announcements are understandable and accessible for the 1.5 million people with learning disabilities.
The 1.5m people living with a disability in the UK are disenfranchised because of the lack of accessible information on politics and policies that affect them,
according to United Response.
The disability charity is urging the Government to make legislation more transparent and accessible to those people, especially as they are disproportionately affected by policy changes.
My Government will… introduce a Bill to make provision for the safety, convenience and free movement on pavements of disabled people, older people, people accompanying young children, and other pavement users; to clarify, strengthen and simplify the law relating to parking on pavements in England and Wales; and for connected purposes.
Guide Dogs for the Blind is drawing attentionto the countrywide problem of pavement parking, which creates severe difficulties for vulnerable road users.
In the words of one guide dog owner, Simon: “There were so many cars parked on pavements that I returned home distraught. I considered giving up my guide dog because it was so difficult to get past the cars, and I felt that my independence had been taken away again"
Environment
My Government will… introduce a bill to make Britain’s air quality the best in Europe by drastically reducing harmful emissions from road transport.
Calor Gas would like to seea genuine commitment from policy makers to improving air quality in the UK by reducing harmful transport emissions.
Paul Blacklock, head of corporate affairs and strategy at Calor Gas suggests that Liquid Petroleum Autogas could “significantly reduce harmful emissions from transport quickly and at the lowest cost.”
He calls on the new government to “sensibly look at options that can make an immediate and cost-effective impact such as government support for LPG. This support would include removing the fuel duty escalator on LPG, support for engine conversions and the promotion of LPG at national and local level for public sector fleets.”
My Government will… introduce a Bill to ensure the UK is fully prepared to develop, commercialise and integrate the technologies necessary to transition to a low carbon energy system by 2050.
Making decisions now to secure the UK’s future energy supply is vital,
according to the Energy Technologies Institute.
The organisation is calling for proper planning over the next decade to ensure that the country’s aging infrastructure is renewed and replaced, in order to deliver efficient and cost-effective energy.
Older people
My Government will… introduce a Bill to help make the UK a great place to grow older.
Age UK calls forwide-reaching legislation which seeks ensure that older people live healthy and enjoyable lives.
It would concentrate on the provision of health and care services, educating older people on nutrition, fitness and safety, as well as tackling the scourge of poverty and loneliness that can blight the lives of elderly citizens.
The charity would like policymakers to have ‘a vision for a world where everyone is able to love later life.’
My Government will… get ready for ageing and radically rethink care
Independent Age urges the Governmentto prepare for the challenges of an ageing population and to recognise that social care is as important as the NHS.
My Government will introduce a Bill to... change the law so that 140,000 older people every year are not forced to give up their pet when they enter supported accommodation.
The National Office of Animal Healthis stressing the need for a change in law, which would allow older people to keep their pets when they enter supported accommodation.
Under current rules, they may be forced to give up any animals, causing them to lose out on the vital companionship and structure that comes with pet ownership.
Justice
My Government will introduce a Bill to restore legal aid in civil and family law.
Following changes to the law under the previous government, access to legal aid has been reduced and is no longer available for those in crisis with welfare, employment, clinical negligence, debt, or immigration issues, or most legal issues relating to family, housing or education.
This has led to increased instances of defendants representing themselves in court, causing costly delays and undermining the justice process,
according to the Bar Council. It would like the Queen’s Speech to outline how these fundamental issues will be resolved over the coming parliament.
Children and families
My Government will… introduce a Bill within the first 100 days that will support families and provide them with the help they need in the first stages of their children’s lives, to give every child the best start in life.
Leading family support charity Home-Start is keenfor the Queen’s Speech to prioritise children and families in three key policy areas: housing, mental health and nutrition.
It would like Parliament to enshrine in law a child’s right to a safe home, protection from hunger and poor nutrition and support for parents with mental health problems.
Animal welfare
My Government will… introduce a Bill to ensure that all pet breeding legislation prioritises health and welfare over profit.
Animal charity Blue Crosshas provided support for sick, injured and homeless pets since 1897 and is calling on the Government to build on the significant progress it has made on animal welfare in recent years.
Updating the law to tackle overbreeding and overpopulation of domestic animals in the UK, is just one of the things the organisation would like to hear from Her Majesty today.
Consumer rights
Good customer service can make a substantial contribution to economic growth and this should be acknowledged by parliamentarians,
according to the Institute of Customer Service.
CEO Jo Causon says she would like the Queen to “set out how her government will encourage organisations, both private and public sector, to adopt a world class customer service model and develop the skills to deliver it in order to improve economic growth and the delivery of public services.”
Health and Safety
My Government will introduce a Bill to protect the increasing numbers of people living in private rented sector (PRS) accommodation, by requiring mandatory, five yearly safety checks of the electrical installation of all PRS homes - and any electrical appliances provided with them.
Campaign group Electrical Safety First believesdisturbing figures on the number of deaths in the home caused by electrical accidents – one a week in the UK – justify urgent reform, focussed on improving safety in the rented housing sector through mandatory regular checks.