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Last Updated: Wednesday, 15 November 2006, 08:29 GMT
What is the Queen's Speech?
The Queen's Speech
The Queen's Speech begins the new session of Parliament

Each session of Parliament begins with this royal address, and usually takes place in November, and covers the following year.



Her speech does not set out the entirety of the government's programme, however. The Budget, and its recent addition the pre-Budget report, have also been increasingly used to set out strategy and announce new measures.

Final say

The decision over what to put in or leave out of the Queen's Speech is a politically crucial one, usually the subject of months of political wrangling within government as ministers and lobby groups fight for their favoured measures to win a slot in the crowded legislative agenda.

A Cabinet committee - which includes the leaders of the Commons and Lords, the chief whip and chief law officers - helps decide on its content, with the prime minister having the final say.

The limited parliamentary timetable - and the time it takes for large bills to pass through examination by committees in the Commons and Lords - usually means that not all desired measures can be included.



In this case there are at least three bills being carried over - including the corporate manslaughter and Crossrail bills.

What can go wrong?

Although the government controls the Parliamentary timetable through its majority in the House of Commons, several factors can derail or change its plans.






Coverage of the State Opening of Parliament




Boxing gloves Gloves are off

Pomp and pageantry



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