§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress made with putting into effect the Government policies set out in the Queen's Speeches in 1997 and 1998 [90869]
The Prime Minister: Fifty-two Government bills became law in the 1997–98 parliamentary Session, including those to raise standards in education, delivering our manifesto commitment on constitutional reform, tackling crime, ensuring economic stability through Bank of England independence, and ensuring fairness at work through measures such as the national minimum wage.
In the 1998 Queen's speech we undertook to bring forward legislation on a wide range of issues including modemising the National Health Service, delivering on our pledge to modernise the youth justice system, and through our welfare reform programme. Ten bills have reached Royal Assent and a further 18 are on course to do so before the end of the Session.
The Government's Annual Report will be published towards the end of this month and this will detail progress on the Government's entire programme as set out in' the manifesto. The Report will also set out what the Government's priorities are for the coming years.