state opening of parliament

I put my anorak back on today to see the state opening of parliament.  After a year of little activity in politics because of my training, I have become detached and had forgotten my deep seated interest in the procedures which set the political scene in this country.  It isn’t just about the ceremony, seeing inside the chamber of the House of Lords or inside Parliament.  Anyone can do that anytime they visit London.    It isn’t just about the buzz that surrounds the place (believe me, there is a buzz. The parties start way before midday and continue for the remainder of the day) nor getting out your finest gowns and jewellery and it isn’t just about an opportunity to see the Queen in her royal crown.  Having worked their I walked the corridors day after day, feed the Queen’s horses sugar cubes and analysed the speece as it was read. 

 The state opening of parliament is significant because it is the first indication that the country gets of the legislation that the government is going to pursue for the coming year.

From today lobbiest, journalists, campaign groups, academics, local authorities non-government agencies, political parties and every government department will gear themselves up for their work over the coming year to campaign for changes to legislation to better benefit one group or another or to work through the details to see what it really means.

 The legislative workload as announced by the Queen today is the first one given by the current Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.  Journalists are watching closely to see if it will mark him out as different to his predecessor or if Brown is continuing in the same vain. 

The programme which was announced and which will be discussed in Parliament over the next twelve months includes:

• legislation to encourage young people to stay in education/training until the age of 18
• draft legislation to reform apprenticeships
• legislation to create a new homes and communities agency
• reformation of the planning system
• improvements to services for children and young people particularly those in care
• family life balance
• legislation to allow unclaimed money in dormant bank accounts to be used for youth inclusion
• legislation for employers to contribute to good quality pensions
• reduction of carbon dioxide
• continued reform of criminal justice system
• draft bill on citizenship
• changes to terrorism laws
• renewal of constitutional settlement
• regulation of party finance and expenditure
• EU Reform Treaty legislation
• security, political reconciliation and economic security for Iraq
• UN G8 and EU to prevent spread of weapons of mass destruction
• maintain strong commitment for reaching peace settlement for Israel and Palestine.

It will be interesting to see the details of these bills as they come out and, along with my busy learning schedule, I will try to keep an eye on them while having a look at how it affects my work as well as the impact that it has on the Christian community.

 I don’t know that the legislative programme says anything about differences between Brown and Blair.  What I do know is that it anything that gives additional support to young people is bound to be good.  The more education a child gets, the better equiped they will be to make appropriate choices that will keep them out of trouble, reduce their involvment in crime and encourage them to earn through legal means.  That sounds like a condemnation of all young people but it really isn’t.  There is a problem of quick wins.  Young people have to make decisions between earning a little now or a lot in the future.  It’s a decision which can mean the difference between a life of crime and a law abiding life.  The education process and the work environment is stacked against the young people who this legislation sets out to help.  Whether it will help the most severe cases, however, is a different matter. 

More money for provisions for young people was always a challenge.  Any additional resources will certainly be welcomed in the inner city areas that I see on a regular basis.  It’s not just be a matter of freeing up money either.  It will be important to ensure that resources are not tied up in red tape and the groups, provisions or clubs that need it the most aren’t excluded by the processes.