Bills on tobacco and alcohol fail to appear

A combination of internal Government divisions and a desire to appear focused on immigration and the economy led a host of possible Bills to be dropped from this year’s legislative programme.

A Communications Bill, published in draft form last year and widely dubbed the ‘snooper’s charter’ due to the sweeping powers it gave police to monitor people’s internet use, was vetoed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg last month.

The Liberal Democrats have also made clear they will not countenance a Bill committing to a referendum on Britain’s EU membership at the present time.

Also missing from the Queen’s Speech was a Bill to enact the Coalition’s pledge to enshrine in law Britain’s internationally-agreed spending of 0.7 per cent of GDP on overseas aid. David Cameron has promised not to cut the aid budget, but Number Ten does not want to provoke another confrontation with backbenchers by forcing it into statute.

Widely-touted measures to curb alcohol and tobacco consumption with minimum drinks pricing and plain cigarette packaging have still not been agreed within Government.