The Queen's Speech

The Queen is set to deliver a speech at the State Opening of Parliament later today.

10:28 27 May 2015

The Queen is going to deliver her speech today at the State Opening of Parliament. Here are important information that you would want to know. 

 

•The ministers write the speech and the Queen only read it on behalf of her Government. 

•The speech is expected to last around 10 minutes. 

•The Queen wears the Imperial State Crown and Robe of State when reading the speech. 

•Today is the 64th time that the Queen has read the speech. She was not able to do so in 1959 and 1963 because she was pregnant. 

•This year’s speech will be about the following: 

 

-Benefits 

-Minimum wage

-Tax lock, meaning that there will be no increase in VAT, income tax, or national insurance for five years.

-Housing,

-Immigration

-Budget for NHS (an extra £8bn a year by 2020)

-Education

-Strike rules

-Northern Powerhouse

-Devolution

-High Speed Rail

-Scotland (Holyrood given more powers and will be responsible for raising 40per cent of its taxes and 60per cent of spending.)

-Extremism

-Communication Data Bill

-Legal Highs