Queen's Speech local reaction (From Somerset County Gazette)

Queen's Speech local reaction

2:38pm Wednesday 18th November 2009

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TAUNTON MP Jeremy Browne has slammed today's Queen's Speech outlining Government plans up to the next General Election.

The speech outlined how legislation is being brought forward to ensure free personal care for 280,000 elderly and disabled people with the highest needs.

There will also be new guarantees for parents on schooling as well as a crackdown on "risky" bank bonuses, and a law committing the Government to halve its deficit over the next four years.

But with parliamentary time running out, few of the streamlined package of 15 bills are expected to make it to the statute book before the general election.

The Personal Care at Home Bill is intended to enable elderly and disabled people to remain in their own homes - rather than going into residential care.

Mr Browne said: "The Labour Government has run out of energy and ideas.

"This programme of new laws is so thin that everyone will see through it.

"Some of the proposals do not even need legislation, while others are a recognition of ten years of failure and underachievement.

"We should be having a real debate about the economy, climate change, reforming politics and defending our country from the threat of terrorism.

"Britain needs a General Election and a fresh start."

Simon Face, South West regional director of the Institute of Directors, said the "populist measures" would be unpopular with business.

He added: "The Government has announced a Fiscal Responsibility Bill to do what it was planning to do already.

"The 2009 Red Book showed net borrowing more than halving from 12.4% to 5.5% of GDP by 2013-14.

"It’s somewhat worrying that the Government feels it needs the power of legislation to meet its own fiscal plans.

"We need more self-discipline and less legislation.

“If the Fiscal Responsibility Bill puts deficit reduction by lower public spending on the statute book, all well and good.

"However, our fear is that the Bill will merely become an excuse to raise taxation, particularly on business.”

Mr Face added: “The IoD welcomes efforts to improve the regulation of the financial sector through a proposed Financial Services Bill.

"In particular, we support the idea that banks should create 'living wills', in which banks would signpost how they could be wound up in the event of insolvency.

"However, the possible granting of powers to the FSA to cancel existing remuneration contracts between bankers and their employers is not an appropriate step.

"It would serve to undermine the rule of law, and would do little to improve the corporate governance of banks and other financial institutions.”

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