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Queen's speech 2004
- Published: Monday, 22 November 2004
Tackling terrorism, organised crime and the menace of drugs are at the heart of government priorities for the coming year.
During the Speech, given at the State Opening of Parliament, measures were announced to:
- establish a Serious Organised Crime Agency
- continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and the problems of drug abuse
- bring in new laws to deal with harassment from animal rights' extremists
- introduce national identity cards
- see a new Commission for Equality and Human Rights set up
- combat discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of religion, race, sex and disability
- introduce legislation to safeguard the welfare of children whose parents separate
- improve animal welfare standards and increase penalties for abuse
- streamline school inspections to help raise standards
- extend financial support for 16 to 19 year olds engaged in education and training
- introduce a Bill to help further reduce the numbers killed or injured on roads
- streamline the organisation of the national rail system to improve performance
- modernise Charitable law to allow the sector to continue to flourish
Work to reform the National Health Service will continue, offering more information, power and choice to the patient with equal access for all which is free at the point of delivery.
Internationally, the government will work, with its partners, to support the government of Iraq to provide security and stability and ensure free and democratic elections can be held in January as well as support efforts to build peace in the Middle East.
As well as having the Presidency of the European Union, the government will use its G8 Presidency in 2005 to focus on helping Africa and tackling the increasing problem of climate change.
Watch or read the speech in full
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