On Wednesday 14 May, the Prime Minister set
out his legislative programme for the next session of Parliament,
the 'draft Queen's Speech'. In Parliament he described that
the Government is particularly focussed on four key areas:
- economic stability
- making the most of your potential
- personalisation and improvement of public
services
- handing power back to people.
The following links have detailed information
about the Bills included in this draft Queens’ speech and
additional background information on the precedent of this type of
announcement.
We think that the most
important Bills from the College's perspective are those
given below. We have included a quick note on what
might be the major issue or issues. When the Bills are published
there are likely to be other issues that we will work on.
It would be really helpful
if committee members could have a quick look at the
program, and let us know if they see any additional issues for
the College from their Faculty perspective or their area of
particular expertise in the Bills below or in any others in the
draft Queen’s Speech.
·
National Health Service Reform Bill
The Bill would take forward those proposals
arising from Lord Darzi’s ‘NHS Next Stage Review’ of the NHS in
England that would require legislation to enable their
implementation.
The provisional main elements of the
bill might include publishing an NHS Constitution, helping Primary
Care Trusts to be more responsive to their local communities and
giving greater scope for patients to shape the care they receive.
In the legislation we will be seeking to ensure that mental health
is specifically included in the NHS Constitution.
·
Equality Bill
The Bill wouldmake Britain a fairer place
where people have the opportunity to succeed whatever their race,
gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
Fairness and an absence of discrimination are the hallmarks of a
modern, decent society, with a strong economy, which draws on the
talents of all.
We will be looking to ensure that the
proposed legislative framework prohibits mental health
discrimination by arguing that ‘disability’ must be clearly defined
to include mental health problems.
·
Welfare Reform Bill
The Bill would further reform the welfare and
benefit systems to improve support and incentives for people to
move from benefits into work and to provide greater choice and
control for disabled people. The Government remains committed to
make progress towards the target on child poverty. The bill will be
preceded by a green paper and full consultation which will look at
options to modernise the benefit system, delivering value for money
for the taxpayer while providing support for people at the time
they need it most. The changes will also focus on promotion of
personal responsibility and independence, making clearer the
relationship between the support people can receive and the
expectations of them to participate fully in society.
Our emphasis will be on the effect of
the reforms on those with mental health problems. Furthermore, we
may try to improve the support and incentives for people with
mental health problems to gain work
·
Coroners and Death Certification Bill
The Bill would deliver an improved system of
death investigation for families so that they can be assured that
the cause of death of their relative has been properly established
and that, where possible, lessons can be learned to prevent future
deaths.
This will be achieved by creating a new
national coroner service, establishing a new group of medical
examiners to scrutinise independently the causes of death given by
doctors and through the introduction of a Charter for the Bereaved
outlining a full range of rights for bereaved people to be informed
about case progress by coroners.
We will be
seeking to ensure that deaths of people with mental illness (e.g.
suicides) are properly investigated
Tell
us your views
If you have any particular
views on the Bills above or on any others in the draft Queen’s
Speech, please let us know.
Email
the College's Public Affairs Manager, Neil Balmer.