Queen’s Speech 2022: Full list of bills

The cornerstone of Boris Johnson’s policy agenda, the new levelling up bill aims to bring the plan’s laid out in the economic and social programme to life, as set out in the levelling up white paper earlier this year.

2. Schools Bill

“Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.”

A key part of the government’s levelling up agenda, the schools bill will offer more targeted support to children and families who are most in need across England. Education Nadhim Zahawi says the bill will “create a school system that works for every child, parent and family.”

3. Transport Bill

“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.” 

A new public body called Great British Railways will be created to provide “clear lines of accountability” and “more punctual and reliable services”.

4. Energy Security Bill

“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.”

This bill builds on the April energy security strategy and is made against the backdrop the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The bill will look to extend the energy price cap beyond 2023, with the government arguing the limit is the best means to protect consumers from “unfair pricing” despite the current eye-watering energy costs.

5. Draft Digital Markets and Competition Bill

“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 for digital markets and the largest digital firms.”

New legislation will strengthen consumer rights. The government estimates consumers are burdened by £1.8 billion worth of unwanted subscriptions. To improve consumer confidence, new provisions of the legislation include the prohibition of fake reviews.

6. UK Infrastructure Bank Bill

“My Government will establish the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation, with objectives to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero.”

The new bank forms part of the government’s wider infrastructure strategy in delivering net zero by 2050.

7. Non-Domestic Rating Bill 

The government says the new bill would create a “fairer, more accurate business rates system”.

8. Media Bill

The media bill would allow for new legislation to implement the controversial ownership change at Channel 4.

9. Bill for Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure

The bill aims to improve “cyber resilience and digital connectivity” across the UK. On average. The government has said it wants 95% of the UK’s geographic landmass to have 4G coverage by 2025.

10. Electronic Trade Documents Act

This bill’s main purpose is to give electronic documents the same legal status as paper documents, in order to reduce waste and unnecessary red tape.

11. Draft Audit Reform Bill

New legislation would also include the creation of a new statutory regulator, called the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority.

12. Brexit Freedoms Bill

“My Government will continue to seize the opportunities of the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, to support economic growth. The European Union will repeal and reform regulations affecting businesses. A bill will enable law inherited from the European Union to be more easily amended.”

The government claims the new bill would ensure that retained EU law could be “amended, repealed or replaced with legislation which better suits the UK.”

13. Financial Services and Markets Bill

“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.”

Another bill was born out of Brexit. The government wants “an approach to regulation that is designed for the UK.

14. Data Reform Bill

“The United Kingdom’s data protection regime will be reformed.”

An overhaul of the UK’s data rights and law framework.

15. Trade (Australia & New Zealand) Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to enable the implementation of the United Kingdom’s first new Free Trade Agreements since leaving the European Union.”

More legislation related to Brexit. The government suggests the new agreements will boost trade with Australia and New Zealand by 53% and 59% respectively, providing a £3.1 billion boost to the economy.

16. Bill on Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding).

“Legislation will unlock the potential of new technologies to promote sustainable and efficient farming and food production.”

To provide legislative space for the development and maintenance of precision bred animals and plants

17. Higher Education Bill

“Reforms to education will help every child fulfil their potential wherever they live, raising standards and improving the quality of schools and higher education.”

The post-18 education leg of the government’s levelling up education plan, which will include the provision of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement.

18. Social Housing Regulation Bill

“My Government will introduce legislation to improve the regulation of social housing to strengthen the rights of tenants and ensure better quality, safer homes.”

A bill which aims to enshrine housing tenants’ rights, including expanding the ability of renters to hold their landlords to account over housing issues.

19. Renters Reform Bill 

The notable new change this bill provides is abolishing ‘no fault’ evictions through the removal of Section 21 of the Housing Act 1998. This would allow tenants and landlords to contest unfair rent increases and poor practices in the sector.

20. Harbours (Seafarers’ Remuneration) Bill

Following the P&O Ferries sackings scandal, the government is introducing a new bill that would stop ferry services from accessing UK ports, if they fail to pay their workers the National Minimum Wage when operating in UK waters.

21. Social Security (Special Rules to End of Life) Bill

The new bill will raise the threshold for terminal illness to mean that you have 12 months or less to live. This is in addition to the current six-month cut-off. This will make it easier for people nearing the end to receive fast-tracked access at key disability benefits.

22. Public Order Bill

“Legislation will be introduced to ensure the police have the powers to make the streets safer.”

A controversial bill to clamp down on protestors like Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain from “using guerrilla tactics” by criminalising actions such as attaching themselves to objects and buildings.

23. National Security Bill

“Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom.”

Another arm of the government’s crime strategy, new legislative changes such as reforming existing espionage laws to counteract raised threats to democratic nations in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

24. Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

“A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow.”

This bill is designed to strengthen anti-laundering efforts in the UK and uncover other criminal activity in the UK. The government says it wants to unsure “Putin’s cronies do not benefit from the UK’s open society

25. Modern Slavery Bill

This bill’s purpose is to increase efforts to combat modern slavery supply chains and strengthen support measures to victims of human trafficking. The police recorded 9,158 modern slavery offenses in the year ending September 2021.

26. Draft Protect Duty Bill

This new draft bill aims to establish new security requirements for public venues/locations that are more at risk of terrorist attacks.

27. Draft Mental Health Act Reform Bill

“My ministers will publish draft legislation to reform the Mental Health Act.”

This new draft bill would update the existing framework to deal with mental health problems for the 21st Century. A key element of the bill is updating the definition of mental disorder so people with autism or a learning disabilities can’t be solely detained on this basis.

28. Bill of Rights

“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”.

A new bill to replace the human rights act, the government says the purpose of the new legislation is to ““end the abuse of the human rights framework and restore some common sense to our justice system.”

The UK will be able to deport asylum-seekers much easier under the new bill.

29. Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy, Reconciliation) Bill

“My Government will prioritise support for the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its institutions, including through legislation to address the legacy of the past.”

This bill seeks to exempt veterans from prosecution for their deaths during the Troubles. The government say they would establish a new “Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery” in order to provide “better outcomes for victims, survivors and their families”.

30. Bill on Identity and Language (Northern Ireland).

This bill would create the framework for delivering on the cultural commitments made under the New Decade, New Approach Deal.

31. Conversion Therapy Bill

“Legislation will also be introduced to ban conversion therapy.”

Contrary to popular belief, the bill does not ban conversion therapy. It would apply only to sexual orientation. The bill is not intended to ban conversion therapy for transgender people, as has been much criticism.

32. Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions Bill

“Legislation will prevent public bodies engaging in boycotts that undermine community cohesion.”

The government claims that this bill is necessary in order to stop discrimination. It also links boycott campaigns as a key driver of this issue, especially over antisemitism. “These types of campaigns overwhelmingly target Israel”, the government claims.

Continuing Bills

33. High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill

This legislation will allow for the construction and operation of the next phase HS2, which runs between Crewe and Manchester.

Between 2035 and 41, the project is expected to be completed and services started.

34. Procurement Bill

“Public sector procurement will be simplified to provide new opportunities for small businesses.”

Another post-Brexit bill, which is intended to make public sector procurement easier.

35. Online Safety Bill

After being introduced to parliament earlier this yea, the online safety bill will be carried into the next parliamentary session. It places a greater burden on social media platforms, especially children, to protect users while also protecting freedom of speech.

If companies do not comply with new laws, Ofcom will have greater powers to fine them.

36. Draft Victims Bill

The legislation proposed would strengthen and simplify the rights of victims of crime and provide support.

This bill is a result of ongoing work to assist victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and violence against women.

37. Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill

Animal welfare (sentience) bill, which recognises the capacity of animals to feel pain and suffering – enshrined into law.

38. Higher Education (Freedom of Speech Bill)

This bill will look to improve powers to punish universities if they don’t protect free speech at universities.

Universities have been known to be left-leaning venues in the past. Critics claim that this is more about stifling criticism from right-wing viewpoints.