The Prince of Wales delivered the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday as he stepped in for his mother, who missed the occasion for only the third time.
The speech unveiled a package of 38 bills outlining the legislative plans of Boris Johnson’s government for the next year.
Here is the full text of the speech:
“My lords and members of the House of Commons.
“My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.
“My Government will level up opportunity in all parts of the country and support more people into work.
“My ministers will continue to support the police to make the streets safer, and fund the National Health Service to reduce the Covid backlogs.
“In these challenging times, my Government will play a leading rolein defending democracy and freedom across the world, including continuing tosupport the people of Ukraine.
“My Government will drive economic growth to improve living standards and fund sustainable investment in public services.
“This will be underpinned by a responsible approach to the public finances, reducing debt while reforming and cutting taxes.
“My ministers will support the Bank of England to return inflation to its target.
“A bill will be brought forward to drive local growth, empowering local leaders to regenerate their areas, and ensuring everyone can share in the United Kingdom’s success.
“The planning system will be reformed to give residents more involvement in local development.
“My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers.
“My ministers will bring forward an Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy. This will build on the success of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow last year.
“Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights and protect households and businesses will be published.
“Measures will also be published to create new competition rules fordigital markets and the largest digital firms.
“My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, withobjectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero.
“Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.
“My ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act.
“My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. Regulations on businesses will be repealed and reformed.
“A bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended.
“Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses.
“New legislation will strengthen the United Kingdom’s financial services industry, ensuring that it continues to act in the interest of all people and communities.
“The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed.
“My Government will continue to champion international trade, delivering jobs across the country and growing the economy.
“Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union.
“My Ministers will encourage agricultural and scientific innovation at home.
“Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production.
“My Government will protect the integrity of the United Kingdom’s borders and ensure the safety of its people.
“My ministers will take action to prevent dangerous and illegal Channel crossings and tackle the criminal gangs who profit from facilitating them.
“Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer.
“A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow.
My Government’s priority is to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of living for families.
“Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom.
“My Government will lead the way in championing security around the world. It will continue to invest in our gallant Armed Forces.
“My ministers will work closely with international partners to maintain a united NATO and address the most pressing global security challenges.
“The continued success and integrity of the whole of the United Kingdom is ofparamount importance to my Government, including the internal economic bonds between all of its parts.
“My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past.
“My Government will ensure the constitution is defended. My ministers will restore the balance of power between the legislature and the courts by introducing a Bill of Rights.
“Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion.
“My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes.
“Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy.
“Proposals will be published to establish an independent regulator of English football.
“In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, I look forward to the celebrations taking place across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth, and to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
“Members of the House of Commons. Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.
“My lords and members of the House of Commons. Other measures will be laid before you.
“I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.”
