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The Government's agreement.
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The Coalition:our programme for government
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 3
Freedom
Fairness
Responsibility
4 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 5
CONTENTS1. Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2. Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3. CivilLiberties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4. CommunitiesandLocalGovernment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5. ConsumerProtection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6. CrimeandPolicing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7. Culture,Olympics,MediaandSport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8. Defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9. DeficitReduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10. EnergyandClimateChange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
11. Environment,FoodandRuralAffairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
12. Equalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
13. Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14. FamiliesandChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
15. ForeignAffairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
16. GovernmentTransparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
17. Immigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
18. InternationalDevelopment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
19. JobsandWelfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
20. Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
21. NationalSecurity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
22.NHS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
23. PensionsandOlderPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
24. PoliticalReform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
25. PublicHealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
26. Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
27. SocialAction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
28. SocialCareandDisability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
29. Taxation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
30. Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
31. UniversitiesandFurtherEducation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 7
FOREWORDBy David Cameron and Nick Clegg
ThisisanhistoricdocumentinBritishpolitics:thefirsttimeinoverhalfacenturytwopartieshavecometogethertoputforwardaprogrammeforpartnershipgovernment.
Asourpartieshaveworkedtogetherithasbecomeincreasinglycleartousthat,althoughtherearedifferences,thereisalsocommonground.Weshareaconvictionthatthedaysofbiggovernmentareover;thatcentralisationandtop-downcontrolhaveprovedafailure.WebelievethatthetimehascometodispersepowermorewidelyinBritaintoday;torecognisethatwewillonlymakeprogressifwehelppeopletocometogethertomakelifebetter.Inshort,itisourambitiontodistributepowerandopportunitytopeopleratherthanhoardingauthoritywithingovernment.Thatway,wecanbuildthefree,fairandresponsiblesocietywewanttosee.
WeareagreedthatthefirstdutyofgovernmentistosafeguardournationalsecurityandsupportourtroopsinAfghanistanandelsewhere–andwewillfulfilthatduty.Wearealsoagreedthatthemosturgenttaskfacingthiscoalitionistotackleourrecorddebts,becausewithoutsoundfinances,noneofourambitionswillbedeliverable.Difficultdecisionswillhavetobetakeninthemonthsandyearsahead,butwewillensurethatfairnessisattheheartofthosedecisionssothatallthosemostinneedareprotected.Workingtogether,weareconfidentthatwecantakethecountrythroughdifficulttimestobetterdaysahead.
Tacklingthedeficitisessential,butitisnotwhatwecameintopoliticstoachieve.WestoodforParliament–andfortheleadershipofourparties–withvisionsofaBritainbetterineveryway.Andwehavefoundinthiscoalitionthatourvisionsarenotcompromisedbyworkingtogether;theyarestrengthenedandenhanced.Thatiswhythiscoalitionhasthepotentialforera-changing,convention-challenging,radicalreform.
Forexample,webothwanttobuildaneweconomyfromtherubbleoftheold.Wewillsupportsustainablegrowthandenterprise,balancedacrossallregionsandallindustries,andpromotethegreenindustriesthataresoessentialforourfuture.Thisdocumentshowshow,withradicalplanstoreformourbrokenbankingsystemandnewincentivesforgreengrowth.
WebothwantaBritainwheresocialmobilityisunlocked;whereeveryone,regardlessofbackground,hasthechancetoriseashighastheirtalentsandambitionallowthem.Topavetheway,wehavebothagreedtosweepingreformofwelfare,taxesand,mostofall,ourschools–withabreakingopenofthestatemonopolyandextramoneyfollowingthepoorestpupilssothatthey,atlast,gettogotothebestschools,nottheworst.
WebothwantaBritainwhereourpoliticalsystemislookedatwithadmiration,notanger.WehaveasharedambitiontocleanupWestminsterandadeterminationtooverseearadicalredistributionofpowerawayfromWestminsterandWhitehalltocouncils,communitiesandhomesacrossthenation.Whereverpossible,wewantpeopletocalltheshotsoverthedecisionsthataffecttheirlives.
Andwearebothcommittedtoturningoldthinkingonitsheadanddevelopingnewapproachestogovernment.Foryears,politicianscouldarguethatbecausetheyheldalltheinformation,theyneededmorepower.Buttoday,technologicalinnovationhas–withastonishingspeed–developedtheopportunitytospreadinformationanddecentralisepowerinawaywehaveneverseenbefore.Sowewillextendtransparencytoeveryareaofpubliclife.Similarly,therehasbeentheassumptionthatcentralgovernmentcanonlychangepeople’sbehaviourthroughrulesandregulations.Ourgovernmentwillbeamuchsmarterone,shunningthebureaucraticleversofthepastandfinding
8 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
DavidCameronPrimeMinister
NickCleggDeputyPrimeMinister
Threeweeksagowecouldneverhavepredictedthepublicationofthisdocument.Aftertheelection,ofcourse,therewastheoptionofminoritygovernment–butwewereuninspiredbyit.Instead,therewastheoptionofacoalitioninthenationalinterest–andweseizedit.Whenwesetoffonthisjourneyweweretwopartieswithsomepoliciesincommonandashareddesiretoworkinthenationalinterest.Wearriveatthisprogrammeforgovernmentastrong,progressivecoalitioninspiredbythevaluesoffreedom,fairnessandresponsibility.Thisprogrammeisforfiveyearsofpartnershipgovernmentdrivenbythosevalues.Webelievethatitcandeliverradical,reforminggovernment,astrongersociety,asmallerstate,andpowerandresponsibilityinthehandsofeverycitizen.Greatchangeandrealprogresslieahead.
intelligentwaystoencourage,supportandenablepeopletomakebetterchoicesforthemselves.
Ineverypartofthisagreement,wehavegonefurtherthansimplyadoptingthosepolicieswherewepreviouslyoverlapped.Wehavefoundthatacombinationofourparties’bestideasandattitudeshasproducedaprogrammeforgovernmentthatismoreradicalandcomprehensivethanourindividualmanifestos.
Forexample,whenyoutakeConservativeplanstostrengthenfamiliesandencouragesocialresponsibility,andaddtothemtheLiberalDemocratpassionforprotectingourcivillibertiesandstoppingtherelentlessincursionofthestateintothelivesofindividuals,youcreateaBigSocietymatchedbybigcitizens.Thisoffersthepotentialtocompletelyrecasttherelationshipbetweenpeopleandthestate:citizensempowered;individualopportunityextended;communitiescomingtogethertomakelivesbetter.Webelievethatthecombinationofourideaswillhelpustocreateamuchstrongersociety:onewherethosewhocan,do;andthosewhocannot,wealwayshelp.
Andinthecrucialareaofpublicservicereform,wehavefoundthatLiberalDemocratandConservativeideasarestrongercombined.Forexample,intheNHS,takeConservativethinkingonmarkets,choiceandcompetitionandaddtoittheLiberalDemocratbeliefinadvancingdemocracyatamuchmorelocallevel,andyouhaveaunitedvisionfortheNHSthatistrulyradical:GPswithauthorityovercommissioning;patientswithmuchmorecontrol;electionsforyourlocalNHShealthboard.Together,ourideaswillbringanemphaticendtothebureaucracy,top-downcontrolandcentralisationthathassodiminishedourNHS.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 9
• Wewillreformtheregulatorysystemtoavoidarepeatofthefinancialcrisis.WewillbringforwardproposalstogivetheBankofEnglandcontrolofmacro-prudentialregulationandoversightofmicro-prudentialregulation.
• WeruleoutjoiningorpreparingtojointheEuropeanSingleCurrencyforthedurationofthisagreement.
• WewillworkwiththeBankofEnglandtoinvestigatehowtheprocessofincludinghousingcostsintheCPImeasureofinflationcanbeaccelerated.
• WewillcreateBritain’sfirstfreenationalfinancialadviceservice,whichwillbefundedinfullfromanewsocialresponsibilitylevyonthefinancialservicessector.
• Wetakewhitecollarcrimeasseriouslyasothercrime,sowewillcreateasingleagencytotakeontheworkoftacklingseriouseconomiccrimethatiscurrentlydoneby,amongothers,theSeriousFraudOffice,FinancialServicesAuthorityandOfficeofFairTrading.
2. BUSINESSTheGovernmentbelievesthatbusinessisthedriverofeconomicgrowthandinnovation,andthatweneedtotakeurgentactiontoboostenterprise,supportgreengrowthandbuildanewandmoreresponsibleeconomicmodel.Wewanttocreateafairerandmorebalancedeconomy,wherewearenotsodependentonanarrowrangeofeconomicsectors,andwherenewbusinessesandeconomicopportunitiesaremoreevenlysharedbetweenregionsandindustries.
• Wewillcutredtapebyintroducinga‘one-in,one-out’rulewherebynonewregulationisbroughtinwithoutotherregulationbeingcutbyagreateramount.
• Wewillendthecultureof‘tick-box’regulation,andinsteadtargetinspectionsonhigh-riskorganisationsthroughco-regulationandimprovingprofessionalstandards.
1. BANKINGInrecentyears,wehaveseenamassivefinancialmeltdownduetoover-lending,over-borrowingandpoorregulation.TheGovernmentbelievesthatthecurrentsystemoffinancialregulationisfundamentallyflawedandneedstobereplacedwithaframeworkthatpromotesresponsibleandsustainablebanking,whereregulatorshavegreaterpowerstocurbunsustainablelendingpracticesandwetakeactiontopromotemorecompetitioninthebankingsector.Inaddition,werecognisethatmuchmoreneedstobedonetoprotecttaxpayersfromfinancialmalpracticeandtohelpthepublicmanagetheirowndebts.
• Wewillreformthebankingsystemtoavoidarepeatofthefinancialcrisis,topromoteacompetitiveeconomy,tosustaintherecoveryandtoprotectandsustainjobs.
• Wewillintroduceabankinglevyandseekadetailedagreementonimplementation.
• Wewillbringforwarddetailedproposalsforrobustactiontotackleunacceptablebonusesinthefinancialservicessector;indevelopingtheseproposals,wewillensuretheyareeffectiveinreducingrisk.
• Wewantthebankingsystemtoservebusiness,nottheotherwayround.Wewillbringforwarddetailedproposalstofosterdiversityinfinancialservices,promotemutualsandcreateamorecompetitivebankingindustry.
• WewilldevelopeffectiveproposalstoensuretheflowofcredittoviableSMEs.Thiswillincludeconsiderationofbothamajorloanguaranteeschemeandtheuseofnetlendingtargetsforthenationalisedbanks.
• Wewilltakestepstoreducesystemicriskinthebankingsystemandwillestablishanindependentcommissiontoinvestigatethecomplexissueofseparatingretailandinvestmentbankinginasustainableway;whilerecognisingthatthiswilltaketimetogetright,thecommissionwillbegivenaninitialtimeframeofoneyeartoreport.
10 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillendthebanonsocialtenantsstartingbusinessesintheirownhomes.
• Wewillpromotesmallbusinessprocurement,inparticularbyintroducinganaspirationthat25%ofgovernmentcontractsshouldbeawardedtosmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesandbypublishinggovernmenttendersinfullonlineandfreeofcharge.
• WewillconsidertheimplementationoftheDysonReviewtomaketheUKtheleadinghi-techexporterinEurope,andrefocustheresearchanddevelopmenttaxcreditonhi-techcompanies,smallfirmsandstart-ups.
• Wewillreviewtherangeoffactorsthatcanbeconsideredbyregulatorswhentakeoversareproposed.
• WewillreinstateanOperatingandFinancialReviewtoensurethatdirectors’socialandenvironmentaldutieshavetobecoveredincompanyreporting,andinvestigatefurtherwaysofimprovingcorporateaccountabilityandtransparency.
• WewillensurethatPostOfficesareallowedtoofferawiderangeofservicesinordertosustainthenetwork,andwewilllookatthecasefordevelopingnewsourcesofrevenue,suchasthecreationofaPostOfficeBank.
• Wewillendtheso-called‘gold-plating’ofEUrules,sothatBritishbusinessesarenotdisadvantagedrelativetotheirEuropeancompetitors.
• WewillsupportthecreationofLocalEnterprisePartnerships–jointlocalauthority-businessbodiesbroughtforwardbylocalauthoritiesthemselvestopromotelocaleconomicdevelopment–toreplaceRegionalDevelopmentAgencies(RDAs).ThesemaytaketheformoftheexistingRDAsinareaswheretheyarepopular.
• WewilltakestepstoimprovethecompetitivenessoftheUKtourismindustry,recognisingtheimportantpartitplaysinournationaleconomy.
• Wewillimpose‘sunsetclauses’onregulationsandregulatorstoensurethattheneedforeachregulationisregularlyreviewed.
• WewillreviewIR35,aspartofawholesalereviewofallsmallbusinesstaxation,andseektoreplaceitwithsimplermeasuresthatpreventtaxavoidancebutdonotplaceundueadministrativeburdensoruncertaintyontheself-employed,orrestrictlabourmarketflexibility.
• Wewillfindapracticalwaytomakesmallbusinessratereliefautomatic.
• Wewillreformthecorporatetaxsystembysimplifyingreliefsandallowances,andtacklingavoidance,inordertoreduceheadlinerates.OuraimistocreatethemostcompetitivecorporatetaxregimeintheG20,whileprotectingmanufacturingindustries.
• WewillseektoensureaninjectionofprivatecapitalintoRoyalMail,includingopportunitiesforemployeeownership.WewillretainPostOfficeLtdinpublicownership.
• Wewillseektoensurealevelplayingfieldbetweensmallandlargeretailersbyenablingcouncilstotakecompetitionissuesintoaccountwhendrawinguptheirlocalplanstoshapethedirectionandtypeofnewretaildevelopment.
• Wewillgivethepublictheopportunitytochallengetheworstregulations.
• Wewillreviewemploymentandworkplacelaws,foremployersandemployees,toensuretheymaximiseflexibilityforbothpartieswhileprotectingfairnessandprovidingthecompetitiveenvironmentrequiredforenterprisetothrive.
• Wewillmakeiteasierforpeopletosetupnewenterprisesbycuttingthetimeittakestostartanewbusiness.OurambitionistomaketheUKoneofthefastestcountriesintheworldtostartupanewbusiness.Wewillreducethenumberofformsneededtoregisteranewbusiness,andmovetowardsa‘one-click’registrationmodel.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 11
tobeenshrinedinBritishlaw,andprotectsandextendsBritishliberties.Wewillseektopromoteabetterunderstandingofthetruescopeoftheseobligationsandliberties.
4. COMMUNITIESANDLOCALGOVERNMENT
TheGovernmentbelievesthatitistimeforafundamentalshiftofpowerfromWestminstertopeople.Wewillpromotedecentralisationanddemocraticengagement,andwewillendtheeraoftop-downgovernmentbygivingnewpowerstolocalcouncils,communities,neighbourhoodsandindividuals.
• Wewillpromotetheradicaldevolutionofpowerandgreaterfinancialautonomytolocalgovernmentandcommunitygroups.Thiswillincludeareviewoflocalgovernmentfinance.
• WewillrapidlyabolishRegionalSpatialStrategiesandreturndecision-makingpowersonhousingandplanningtolocalcouncils,includinggivingcouncilsnewpowerstostop‘gardengrabbing’.
• Inthelongerterm,wewillradicallyreformtheplanningsystemtogiveneighbourhoodsfarmoreabilitytodeterminetheshapeoftheplacesinwhichtheirinhabitantslive,basedontheprinciplessetoutintheConservativePartypublicationOpen Source Planning.
• WewillabolishtheunelectedInfrastructurePlanningCommissionandreplaceitwithanefficientanddemocraticallyaccountablesystemthatprovidesafast-trackprocessformajorinfrastructureprojects.
• WewillpublishandpresenttoParliamentasimpleandconsolidatednationalplanningframeworkcoveringallformsofdevelopmentandsettingoutnationaleconomic,environmentalandsocialpriorities.
• WewillmaintaintheGreenBelt,SitesofSpecialScientificInterest(SSSIs)andotherenvironmentalprotections,andcreateanewdesignation–similartoSSSIs–toprotectgreenareasofparticularimportancetolocalcommunities.
3. CIVILLIBERTIESWewillbestrongindefenceoffreedom.TheGovernmentbelievesthattheBritishstatehasbecometooauthoritarian,andthatoverthepastdecadeithasabusedanderodedfundamentalhumanfreedomsandhistoriccivilliberties.Weneedtorestoretherightsofindividualsinthefaceofencroachingstatepower,inkeepingwithBritain’straditionoffreedomandfairness.
• Wewillimplementafullprogrammeofmeasurestoreversethesubstantialerosionofcivillibertiesandrollbackstateintrusion.
• WewillintroduceaFreedomBill.
• WewillscraptheIDcardscheme,theNationalIdentityregisterandtheContactPointdatabase,andhaltthenextgenerationofbiometricpassports.
• Wewilloutlawthefinger-printingofchildrenatschoolwithoutparentalpermission.
• WewillextendthescopeoftheFreedomofInformationActtoprovidegreatertransparency.
• WewilladopttheprotectionsoftheScottishmodelfortheDNAdatabase.
• Wewillprotecthistoricfreedomsthroughthedefenceoftrialbyjury.
• Wewillrestorerightstonon-violentprotest.
• Wewillreviewlibellawstoprotectfreedomofspeech.
• Wewillintroducesafeguardsagainstthemisuseofanti-terrorismlegislation.
• WewillfurtherregulateCCTV.
• Wewillendthestorageofinternetandemailrecordswithoutgoodreason.
• Wewillintroduceanewmechanismtopreventtheproliferationofunnecessarynewcriminaloffences.
• WewillestablishaCommissiontoinvestigatethecreationofaBritishBillofRightsthatincorporatesandbuildsonallourobligationsundertheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights,ensuresthattheserightscontinue
12 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillimposetougherrulestostopunfaircompetitionbylocalauthoritynewspapers.
• Wewillintroducenewpowerstohelpcommunitiessavelocalfacilitiesandservicesthreatenedwithclosure,andgivecommunitiestherighttobidtotakeoverlocalstate-runservices.
• WewillimplementtheSustainableCommunitiesAct,sothatcitizensknowhowtaxpayers’moneyisspentintheirareaandhaveagreatersayoverhowitisspent.
• WewillcutlocalgovernmentinspectionandabolishtheComprehensiveAreaAssessment.
• Wewillrequirecontinuousimprovementstotheenergyefficiencyofnewhousing.
• Wewillprovideincentivesforlocalauthoritiestodeliversustainabledevelopment,includingfornewhomesandbusinesses.
• Wewillreviewtheeffectivenessoftheraisingofthestampdutythresholdforfirst-timebuyers.
• Wewillgivecouncillorsthepowertovoteonlargesalarypackagesforunelectedcouncilofficials.
5. CONSUMERPROTECTIONTheGovernmentbelievesthatactionisneededtoprotectconsumers,particularlythemostvulnerable,andtopromotegreatercompetitionacrosstheeconomy.Weneedtopromotemoreresponsiblecorporateandconsumerbehaviourthroughgreatertransparencyandbyharnessingtheinsightsfrombehaviouraleconomicsandsocialpsychology.
• Wewillgiveregulatorsnewpowerstodefineandbanexcessiveinterestratesoncreditandstorecards;andwewillintroduceaseven-daycooling-offperiodforstorecards.
• Wewillobligecreditcardcompaniestoprovidebetterinformationtotheircustomersinauniformelectronicformatthatwillallowconsumerstofindoutwhethertheyarereceivingthebestdeal.
• WewillabolishtheGovernmentOfficeforLondonandconsiderthecaseforabolishingtheremainingGovernmentOffices.
• Wewillprovidemoreprotectionagainstaggressivebailiffsandunreasonablechargingorders,ensurethatcourtshavethepowertoinsistthatrepossessionisalwaysalastresort,andbanordersforsaleonunsecureddebtsoflessthan£25,000.
• Wewillexplorearangeofmeasurestobringemptyhomesintouse.
• Wewillpromotesharedownershipschemesandhelpsocialtenantsandotherstoownorpart-owntheirhome.
• Wewillpromote‘HomeontheFarm’schemesthatencouragefarmerstoconvertexistingbuildingsintoaffordablehousing.
• Wewillcreatenewtruststhatwillmakeitsimplerforcommunitiestoprovidehomesforlocalpeople.
• Wewillphaseoutthering-fencingofgrantstolocalgovernmentandreviewtheunfairHousingRevenueAccount.
• WewillfreezeCouncilTaxinEnglandforatleastoneyear,andseektofreezeitforafurtheryear,inpartnershipwithlocalauthorities.
• Wewillcreatedirectlyelectedmayorsinthe12largestEnglishcities,subjecttoconfirmatoryreferendumsandfullscrutinyby electedcouncillors.
• Wewillgivecouncilsageneralpowerofcompetence.
• WewillbantheuseofpowersintheRegulationofInvestigatoryPowersAct(RIPA)bycouncils,unlesstheyaresignedoffbyamagistrateandrequiredforstoppingseriouscrime.
• Wewillallowcouncilstoreturntothecommitteesystem,shouldtheywishto.
• WewillabolishtheStandardsBoardregime.
• WewillstoptherestructuringofcouncilsinNorfolk,SuffolkandDevon,andstopplanstoforcetheregionalisationofthefireservice.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 13
• WewillseektospreadinformationonwhichpolicingtechniquesandsentencesaremosteffectiveatcuttingcrimeacrosstheCriminalJusticeSystem.
• Wewillhaveafullreviewofthetermsandconditionsforpoliceofficeremployment.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestomakethepolicemoreaccountablethroughoversightbyadirectlyelectedindividual,whowillbesubjecttostrictchecksandbalancesbylocallyelectedrepresentatives.
• Wewillobligethepolicetopublishdetailedlocalcrimedatastatisticseverymonth,sothepubliccangetproperinformationaboutcrimeintheirneighbourhoodsandholdthepolicetoaccountfortheirperformance.
• Wewillrequirepoliceforcestoholdregular‘beatmeetings’sothatresidentscanholdthemtoaccount.
• Wewillmakehospitalssharenon-confidentialinformationwiththepolicesotheyknowwheregunandknifecrimeishappeningandcantargetstop-and-searchingunandknifecrimehotspots.
• Wewillgivepeoplegreaterlegalprotectiontopreventcrimeandapprehendcriminals.
• Wewillensurethatpeoplehavetheprotectionthattheyneedwhentheydefendthemselvesagainstintruders.
• Wewillbanthesaleofalcoholbelowcostprice.
• Wewillreviewalcoholtaxationandpricingtoensureittacklesbingedrinkingwithoutunfairlypenalisingresponsibledrinkers,pubsandimportantlocalindustries.
• WewilloverhaultheLicensingActtogivelocalauthoritiesandthepolicemuchstrongerpowerstoremovelicencesfrom,orrefusetograntlicencesto,anypremisesthatarecausingproblems.
• Wewillallowcouncilsandthepolicetoshutdownpermanentlyanyshoporbarfoundtobepersistentlysellingalcoholtochildren.
• Wewillintroducestrongerconsumerprotections,includingmeasurestoendunfairbankandfinancialtransactioncharges.
• Wewilltakeforwardmeasurestoenhancecustomerserviceintheprivateandpublicsectors.
• Wewillintroduce,asafirststep,anOmbudsmanintheOfficeofFairTradingwhocanproactivelyenforcetheGrocerySupplyCodeofPracticeandcurbabusesofpower,whichundermineourfarmersandactagainstthelong-terminterestofconsumers.
• Wewillintroducehonestyinfoodlabellingsothatconsumerscanbeconfidentaboutwheretheirfoodcomesfromanditsenvironmentalimpact.
• Wewillincreasehouseholds’controlovertheirenergycostsbyensuringthatenergybillsprovideinformationonhowtomovetothecheapesttariffofferedbytheirsupplier,andhoweachhousehold’senergyusagecomparestosimilarhouseholds.
• WewillgivePostOfficeCardaccountholdersthechancetobenefitfromdirectdebitdiscountsandensurethatsocialtariffsofferaccesstothebestpricesavailable.
• Wewillseektoextendprotectionandsupportto‘off-grid’energyconsumers.
6. CRIMEANDPOLICINGTheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedradicalactiontoreformourcriminaljusticesystem.WeneedpoliceforcesthathavegreaterfreedomfromMinisterialcontrolandarebetterabletodealwiththecrimeandanti-socialbehaviourthatblightspeople’slives,butwhicharemuchmoreaccountabletothepublictheyserve.
• Wewillreducetime-wastingbureaucracythathamperspoliceoperations,andintroducebettertechnologytomakepolicingmoreeffectivewhilesavingtaxpayers’money.
• Wewillamendthehealthandsafetylawsthatstandinthewayofcommonsensepolicing.
14 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• WewillworkwiththeMayorofLondontoensureasafeandsuccessfulOlympicandParalympicGamesinLondonin2012,andurgentlyformplanstodeliveragenuineandlastinglegacy.
• Wewillexaminethecaseformovingtoa‘grossprofitstax’systemfortheNationalLottery,andreformtheNationalLotterysothatmoremoneygoesintosport,theartsandheritage.
• WewillstopwastefulspendingbyNationalLotterydistributorsbybanninglobbyingactivitiesandrestrictingadministrationcoststo5%oftotalincome.
• Wewillusecashindormantbettingaccountstoimprovelocalsportsfacilitiesandsupportsportsclubs.
• Wewillencouragethereformoffootballgovernancerulestosupporttheco-operativeownershipoffootballclubsbysupporters.
• WewillsupportthecreationofanannualOlympic-styleschoolssporteventtoencouragecompetitivesportinschools,andwewillseektoprotectschoolplayingfields.
• Wewillcutredtapetoencouragetheperformanceofmorelivemusic.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoensuretherapidroll-outofsuperfastbroadbandacrossthecountry.WewillensurethatBTandotherinfrastructureprovidersallowtheuseoftheirassetstodeliversuchbroadband,andwewillseektointroducesuperfastbroadbandinremoteareasatthesametimeasinmorepopulatedareas.Ifnecessary,wewillconsiderusingthepartoftheTVlicencefeethatissupportingthedigitalswitchovertofundbroadbandinareasthatthemarketalonewillnotreach.
• Wewilldoublethemaximumfineforunder-agealcoholsalesto£20,000.
• Wewillpermitlocalcouncilstochargemoreforlate-nightlicencestopayforadditionalpolicing.
• Wewillpromotebetterrecordingofhatecrimesagainstdisabled,homosexualandtransgenderpeople,whicharefrequentlynotcentrallyrecorded.
• Wewillintroduceasystemoftemporarybansonnew‘legalhighs’whilehealthissuesareconsideredbyindependentexperts.WewillnotpermanentlybanasubstancewithoutreceivingfulladvicefromtheAdvisoryCouncilontheMisuseofDrugs.
• WewillreviewtheoperationoftheExtraditionAct–andtheUS/UKextraditiontreaty–tomakesureitiseven-handed.
7. CULTURE,OLYMPICS,MEDIAANDSPORT
TheGovernmentbelievesthatavibrantcultural,mediaandsportingsectoriscrucialforourwell-beingandqualityoflife.Weneedtopromoteexcellenceinthesefields,withgovernmentfundingusedwhereappropriatetoencouragephilanthropicandcorporateinvestment.
• WewillmaintaintheindependenceoftheBBC,andgivetheNationalAuditOfficefullaccesstotheBBC’saccountstoensuretransparency.
• Wewillenablepartnershipsbetweenlocalnewspapers,radioandtelevisionstationstopromoteastronganddiverselocalmediaindustry.
• Wewillmaintainfreeentrytonationalmuseumsandgalleries,andgivenationalmuseumsgreaterfreedoms.
• WewillworkwiththeScottishGovernmenttodeliverasuccessfulCommonwealthGamesinGlasgowin2014,andensurethatthe2013RugbyLeagueandthe2015RugbyUnionWorldCupsaresuccessful.WewillstronglysupporttheEngland2018WorldCupbid.
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• WewilldoubletheoperationalallowanceforArmedForcespersonnelservinginAfghanistan,andincludeArmedForcespayinourplansforafairpayreview.
• Wewillensurethatinjuredpersonnelaretreatedindedicatedmilitarywards.
• WewilllookatwhetherthereisscopetorefurbishArmedForces’accommodationfromefficiencieswithintheMinistryofDefence.
• Wewillsupportdefencejobsthroughexportsthatareusedforlegitimatepurposes,notinternalrepression,andwillworkforafullinternationalbanonclustermunitions.
9. DEFICITREDUCTIONTheGovernmentbelievesthatitisthemostvulnerablewhoaremostatriskfromthedebtcrisis,andthatitisdeeplyunfairthattheGovernmentcouldhavetospendmoreondebtinterestpaymentsthanonschools.Soweneedimmediateactiontotacklethedeficitinafairandresponsibleway,ensurethattaxpayers’moneyisspentresponsibly,andgetthepublicfinancesbackontrack.
• Werecognisethatdeficitreduction,andcontinuingtoensureeconomicrecovery,isthemosturgentissuefacingBritain.
• WewillsignificantlyacceleratethereductionofthestructuraldeficitoverthecourseofaParliament,withthemainburdenofdeficitreductionbornebyreducedspendingratherthanincreasedtaxes.
• Wewillintroducearrangementsthatwillprotectthoseonlowincomesfromtheeffectofpublicsectorpayconstraintandotherspendingconstraints.
• Wewillprotectjobsbystoppingtheproposedjobstax.
• Wewillsetoutaplanfordeficitreductioninanemergencybudget.WehavecreatedanindependentOfficeforBudgetResponsibilitytomakenewforecastsofgrowthandborrowingforthisemergencybudget.
8. DEFENCETheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtotakeactiontosafeguardournationalsecurityathomeandabroad.WealsorecognisethatweneedtodomuchmoretoensurethatourArmedForceshavethesupporttheyneed,andthatveteransandtheirfamiliesaretreatedwiththedignitythattheydeserve.
• WewillmaintainBritain’snucleardeterrent,andhaveagreedthattherenewalofTridentshouldbescrutinisedtoensurevalueformoney.LiberalDemocratswillcontinuetomakethecaseforalternatives.WewillimmediatelyplayastrongroleintheNuclearNon-ProliferationTreatyReviewConference,andpressforcontinuedprogressonmultilateraldisarmament.
• WewillaimtoreduceMinistryofDefencerunningcostsbyatleast25%.
• WewillworktorebuildtheMilitaryCovenantby:
– ensuringthatServicepersonnel’srestandrecuperationleavecanbemaximised;
– changingtherulessothatServicepersonnelonlyhavetoregisteronceontheServiceregister;
– exploringthepotentialforincludingServicechildrenaspartofourproposalsforapupilpremium;
– providinguniversityandfurthereducationscholarshipsforthechildrenofServicemenandwomenwhohavebeenkilledonactivedutysince1990;
– providingsupportforex-Servicepersonneltostudyatuniversity,
– creatinganewprogramme,‘TroopsforTeachers’,torecruitex-Servicepersonnelintotheteachingprofession;
– providingextrasupportforveteranmentalhealthneeds;and
– reviewingtherulesgoverningtheawardingofmedals.
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• Wewillestablishafullsystemoffeed-intariffsinelectricity–aswellasthemaintenanceofbandedRenewablesObligationCertificates.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestopromoteahugeincreaseinenergyfromwastethroughanaerobicdigestion.
• Wewillcreateagreeninvestmentbank.
• WewillretainenergyperformancecertificateswhilescrappingHIPs.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoencouragemarineenergy.
• Wewillestablishanemissionsperformancestandardthatwillpreventcoal-firedpowerstationsbeingbuiltunlesstheyareequippedwithsufficientcarboncaptureandstoragetomeettheemissionsperformancestandard.
• WewillcancelthethirdrunwayatHeathrow.
• WewillrefusepermissionforadditionalrunwaysatGatwickandStansted.
• WewillreplaceAirPassengerDutywithaper-flightduty.
• Wewillintroduceafloorpriceforcarbon,andmakeeffortstopersuadetheEUtomovetowardsfullauctioningofETSpermits.
• Throughour‘GreenDeal’,wewillencouragehomeenergyefficiencyimprovementspaidforbysavingsfromenergybills.Wewillalsotakemeasurestoimproveenergyefficiencyinbusinessesandpublicsectorbuildings.Wewillreducecentralgovernmentcarbonemissionsby10%within12months.
• Wewillreformenergymarketstodeliversecurityofsupplyandinvestmentinlowcarbonenergy,andensurefaircompetitionincludingareviewoftheroleofOfgem.
• WewillinstructOfgemtoestablishasecurityguaranteeofenergysupplies.
• WewillgiveanAnnualEnergyStatementtoParliamenttosetstrategicenergypolicyandguideinvestment.
• Wewilldeliveranoffshoreelectricitygridinordertosupportthedevelopmentofanewgenerationofoffshorewindpower.
• Wewillmakemodestcutsof£6billiontonon-front-lineserviceswithinthefinancialyear2010/11,subjecttoadvicefromtheTreasuryandtheBankofEnglandontheirfeasibilityandadvisability.Aproportionofthesesavingscanbeusedtosupportjobs.
• WewillholdafullSpendingReviewreportingthisautumn,followingafullyconsultativeprocessinvolvingalltiersofgovernmentandtheprivatesector.
• WewillreducespendingontheChildTrustFundandtaxcreditsforhigherearners.
• Wewillcreatestrongfinancialdisciplineatalllevelsofgovernmentandplaceanobligationonpublicservantstomanagetaxpayers’moneywisely.
• Wewillreducethenumberandcostofquangos.
10.ENERGYANDCLIMATECHANGE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatclimatechangeisoneofthegravestthreatsweface,andthaturgentactionathomeandabroadisrequired.Weneedtouseawiderangeofleverstocutcarbonemissions,decarbonisetheeconomyandsupportthecreationofnewgreenjobsandtechnologies.Wewillimplementafullprogrammeofmeasurestofulfilourjointambitionsforalowcarbonandeco-friendlyeconomy.
• WewillpushfortheEUtodemonstrateleadershipintacklinginternationalclimatechange,includingbysupportinganincreaseintheEUemissionreductiontargetto30%by2020.
• Wewillseektoincreasethetargetforenergyfromrenewablesources,subjecttotheadviceoftheClimateChangeCommittee.
• Wewillcontinuepublicsectorinvestmentincarboncaptureandstorage(CCS)technologyforfourcoal-firedpowerstations.
• Wewillestablishasmartgridandrolloutsmartmeters.
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11.ENVIRONMENT,FOODANDRURALAFFAIRS
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtoprotecttheenvironmentforfuturegenerations,makeoureconomymoreenvironmentallysustainable,andimproveourqualityoflifeandwell-being.Wealsobelievethatmuchmoreneedstobedonetosupportthefarmingindustry,protectbiodiversityandencouragesustainablefoodproduction.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestomaketheimportorpossessionofillegaltimberacriminaloffence.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoprotectwildlifeandpromotegreenspacesandwildlifecorridorsinordertohaltthelossofhabitatsandrestorebiodiversity.
• Wewilllaunchanationaltreeplantingcampaign.
• WewillreviewthegovernancearrangementsofNationalParksinordertoincreaselocalaccountability.
• WewillworktowardsfullcompliancewithEuropeanAirQualitystandards.
• WewilltakeforwardthefindingsofthePittReviewtoimproveourflooddefences,andpreventunnecessarybuildinginareasofhighfloodrisk.
• WewillexaminetheconclusionsoftheCaveandWalkerReviews,andreformthewaterindustrytoensuremoreefficientuseofwaterandtheprotectionofpoorerhouseholds.
• Wewillworktowardsa‘zerowaste’economy,encouragecouncilstopaypeopletorecycle,andworktoreducelittering.
• Wewillreducetheregulatoryburdenonfarmersbymovingtoarisk-basedsystemofregulation,andwilldevelopasystemofextrasupportforhillfarmers.
• Wewillencouragecommunity-ownedrenewableenergyschemeswherelocalpeoplebenefitfromthepowerproduced.Wewillalsoallowcommunitiesthathostrenewableenergyprojectstokeeptheadditionalbusinessratestheygenerate.
• Aspartofthecreationofagreeninvestmentbank,wewillcreategreenfinancialproductstoprovideindividualswithopportunitiestoinvestintheinfrastructureneededtosupportthenewgreeneconomy.
• Wewillworktowardsanambitiousglobalclimatedealthatwilllimitemissionsandexplorethecreationofnewinternationalsourcesoffundingforthepurposeofclimatechangeadaptationandmitigation.
• LiberalDemocratshavelongopposedanynewnuclearconstruction.Conservatives,bycontrast,arecommittedtoallowingthereplacementofexistingnuclearpowerstationsprovidedthattheyaresubjecttothenormalplanningprocessformajorprojects(underanewNationalPlanningStatement),andalsoprovidedthattheyreceivenopublicsubsidy.
• WewillimplementaprocessallowingtheLiberalDemocratstomaintaintheiroppositiontonuclearpowerwhilepermittingtheGovernmenttobringforwardtheNationalPlanningStatementforratificationbyParliamentsothatnewnuclearconstructionbecomespossible.Thisprocesswillinvolve:
– theGovernmentcompletingthedraftingofanationalplanningstatementandputtingitbeforeParliament;
– specificagreementthataLiberalDemocratspokespersonwillspeakagainstthePlanningStatement,butthatLiberalDemocratMPswillabstain;and
– claritythatthiswillnotberegardedasanissueofconfidence.
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12.EQUALITIESTheGovernmentbelievesthattherearemanybarrierstosocialmobilityandequalopportunitiesinBritaintoday,withtoomanychildrenheldbackbecauseoftheirsocialbackground,andtoomanypeopleofallagesheldbackbecauseoftheirgender,race,religionorsexuality.Weneedconcertedgovernmentactiontoteardownthesebarriersandhelptobuildafairersociety.
• Wewillpromoteequalpayandtakearangeofmeasurestoenddiscriminationintheworkplace.
• Wewillextendtherighttorequestflexibleworkingtoallemployees,consultingwithbusinessonhowbesttodoso.
• Wewillundertakeafairpayreviewinthepublicsectortoimplementourproposed‘20times’paymultiple.
• Wewilllooktopromotegenderequalityontheboardsoflistedcompanies.
• WewillpromoteimprovedcommunityrelationsandopportunitiesforBlack,AsianandMinorityEthnic(BAME)communities,includingbyprovidinginternshipsforunder-representedminoritiesineveryWhitehalldepartmentandfundingatargetednationalenterprisementoringschemeforBAMEpeoplewhowanttostartabusiness.
• Wewillstopthedeportationofasylumseekerswhohavehadtoleaveparticularcountriesbecausetheirsexualorientationorgenderidentificationputsthematprovenriskofimprisonment,tortureorexecution.
• WewilluseourrelationshipswithothercountriestopushforunequivocalsupportforgayrightsandforUKcivilpartnershipstoberecognisedinternationally.
• Wewillinvestigatewaystosharewithlivestockkeeperstheresponsibilityforpreparingforanddealingwithoutbreaksofdisease.
• WewilltakeforwardtheMarineandCoastalAccessActandensurethatitsconservationmeasuresareimplementedeffectively.
• Aspartofapackageofmeasures,wewillintroduceacarefullymanagedandscience-ledpolicyofbadgercontrolinareaswithhighandpersistentlevelsofbovinetuberculosis.
• Wewillpromotehighstandardsoffarmanimalwelfare.Wewillendthetestingofhouseholdproductsonanimalsandworktoreducetheuseofanimalsinscientificresearch.WewillpromoteresponsiblepetownershipbyintroducingeffectivecodesofpracticeundertheAnimalWelfareAct,andwillensurethatenforcementagenciestargetirresponsibleownersofdangerousdogs.
• Wewillensurethatfoodprocuredbygovernmentdepartments,andeventuallythewholepublicsector,meetsBritishstandardsofproductionwhereverthiscanbeachievedwithoutincreasingoverallcost.
• Wewillinvestigatemeasurestohelpwithfuelcostsinremoteruralareas,startingwithpilotschemes.
• Wewillcreateapresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopmentintheplanningsystem.
• Weopposetheresumptionofcommercialwhaling,willpressforabanonivorysales,andwilltacklethesmugglingandillegaltradeonwildlifethroughournewBorderPoliceForce.
• WewillbringforwardamotiononafreevoteenablingtheHouseofCommonstoexpressitsviewontherepealoftheHuntingAct.
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• Wewillapproachforthcominglegislationintheareaofcriminaljusticeonacase-by-casebasis,withaviewtomaximisingourcountry’ssecurity,protectingBritain’scivillibertiesandpreservingtheintegrityofourcriminaljusticesystem.BritainwillnotparticipateintheestablishmentofanyEuropeanPublicProsecutor.
• WesupportthefurtherenlargementoftheEU.
14.FAMILIESANDCHILDRENTheGovernmentbelievesthatstrongandstablefamiliesofallkindsarethebedrockofastrongandstablesociety.Thatiswhyweneedtomakeoursocietymorefamilyfriendly,andtotakeactiontoprotectchildrenfromexcessivecommercialisationandprematuresexualisation.
• WewillmaintainthegoalofendingchildpovertyintheUKby2020.
• Wewillreformtheadministrationoftaxcreditstoreducefraudandoverpayments.
• Wewillbringforwardplanstoreducethecouplepenaltyinthetaxcreditsystemaswemakesavingsfromourwelfarereformplans.
• Wesupporttheprovisionoffreenurserycareforpre-schoolchildren,andwewantthatsupporttobeprovidedbyadiverserangeofproviders,withagreatergenderbalanceintheearlyyearsworkforce.
• WewilltakeSureStartbacktoitsoriginalpurposeofearlyintervention,increaseitsfocusontheneediestfamilies,andbetterinvolveorganisationswithatrackrecordofsupportingfamilies.Wewillinvestigatewaysofensuringthatprovidersarepaidinpartbytheresultstheyachieve.
• WewillrefocusfundingfromSureStartperipateticoutreachservices,andfromtheDepartmentofHealthbudget,topayfor4,200extraSureStarthealthvisitors.
• Wewillinvestigateanewapproachtohelpingfamilieswithmultipleproblems.
13.EUROPETheGovernmentbelievesthatBritainshouldplayaleadingroleinanenlargedEuropeanUnion,butthatnofurtherpowersshouldbetransferredtoBrusselswithoutareferendum.ThisapproachstrikestherightbalancebetweenconstructiveengagementwiththeEUtodealwiththeissuesthataffectusall,andprotectingournationalsovereignty.
• WewillensurethattheBritishGovernmentisapositiveparticipantintheEuropeanUnion,playingastrongandpositiverolewithourpartners,withthegoalofensuringthatallthenationsofEuropeareequippedtofacethechallengesofthe21stcentury:globalcompetitiveness,globalwarmingandglobalpoverty.
• WewillensurethatthereisnofurthertransferofsovereigntyorpowersoverthecourseofthenextParliament.WewillexaminethebalanceoftheEU’sexistingcompetencesandwill,inparticular,worktolimittheapplicationoftheWorkingTimeDirectiveintheUnitedKingdom.
• Wewillamendthe1972EuropeanCommunitiesActsothatanyproposedfuturetreatythattransferredareasofpower,orcompetences,wouldbesubjecttoareferendumonthattreaty–a‘referendumlock’.Wewillamendthe1972EuropeanCommunitiesActsothattheuseofanypasserellewouldrequireprimarylegislation.
• WewillexaminethecaseforaUnitedKingdomSovereigntyBilltomakeitclearthatultimateauthorityremainswithParliament.
• WewillensurethatBritaindoesnotjoinorpreparetojointheEurointhisParliament.
• WewillstronglydefendtheUK’snationalinterestsintheforthcomingEUbudgetnegotiationsandagreethattheEUbudgetshouldonlyfocusonthoseareaswheretheEUcanaddvalue.
• WewillpressfortheEuropeanParliamenttohaveonlyoneseat,inBrussels.
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• Wewillworktoestablishanew‘specialrelationship’withIndiaandseekcloserengagementwithChina,whilestandingfirmonhumanrightsinallourbilateralrelationships.
• Wewillmaintainastrong,closeandfrankrelationshipwiththeUnitedStates.
• WewanttostrengthentheCommonwealthasafocusforpromotingdemocraticvaluesanddevelopment.
• WewillworktopromotestabilityintheWesternBalkans.
• WewillsupportconcertedinternationaleffortstopreventIranfromobtaininganuclearweapon.
• WesupportreformoftheUNSecurityCouncil,includingpermanentseatsforJapan,India,Germany,BrazilandAfricanrepresentation.
• Wewillworktointensifyourcultural,educational,commercialanddiplomaticlinkswithmanynationsbeyondEuropeandNorthAmericatostrengthentheUK’srelationswiththefastest-growingareasoftheworldeconomy.
• Wewillnevercondonetheuseoftorture.
16.GOVERNMENTTRANSPARENCY
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtothrowopenthedoorsofpublicbodies,toenablethepublictoholdpoliticiansandpublicbodiestoaccount.Wealsorecognisethatthiswillhelptodeliverbettervalueformoneyinpublicspending,andhelpusachieveouraimofcuttingtherecorddeficit.Settinggovernmentdatafreewillbringsignificanteconomicbenefitsbyenablingbusinessesandnon-profitorganisationstobuildinnovativeapplicationsandwebsites.
• WewillrequirepublicbodiestopublishonlinethejobtitlesofeverymemberofstaffandthesalariesandexpensesofseniorofficialspaidmorethanthelowestsalarypermissibleinPay
• Wewillpublishseriouscasereviews,withidentifyingdetailsremoved.
• Wewillreviewthecriminalrecordsandvettingandbarringregimeandscaleitbacktocommonsenselevels.
• Wewillcrackdownonirresponsibleadvertisingandmarketing,especiallytochildren.Wewillalsotakestepstotacklethecommercialisationandsexualisationofchildhood.
• Wewillencouragesharedparentingfromtheearlieststagesofpregnancy–includingthepromotionofasystemofflexibleparentalleave.
• Wewillputfundingforrelationshipsupportonastable,long-termfooting,andmakesurethatcouplesaregivengreaterencouragementtouseexistingrelationshipsupport.
• Wewillconductacomprehensivereviewoffamilylawinordertoincreasetheuseofmediationwhencouplesdobreakup,andtolookathowbesttoprovidegreateraccessrightstonon-residentparentsandgrandparents.
15.FOREIGNAFFAIRSTheGovernmentbelievesthatBritainmustalwaysbeanactivememberoftheglobalcommunity,promotingournationalinterestswhilestandingupforthevaluesoffreedom,fairnessandresponsibility.ThismeansworkingasaconstructivememberoftheUnitedNations,NATOandothermultilateralorganisationsincludingtheCommonwealth;workingtopromotestabilityandsecurity;andpushingforreformofglobalinstitutionstoensurethattheyreflectthemodernworld.
• WewilltakeforwardoursharedresolvetosafeguardtheUK’snationalsecurityandsupportourArmedForcesinAfghanistanandelsewhere.
• WewillpushforpeaceintheMiddleEast,withasecureanduniversallyrecognisedIsraellivingalongsideasovereignandviablePalestinianstate.
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17. IMMIGRATIONTheGovernmentbelievesthatimmigrationhasenrichedourcultureandstrengthenedoureconomy,butthatitmustbecontrolledsothatpeoplehaveconfidenceinthesystem.Wealsorecognisethattoensurecohesionandprotectourpublicservices,weneedtointroduceacaponimmigrationandreducethenumberofnon-EUimmigrants.
• Wewillintroduceanannuallimitonthenumberofnon-EUeconomicmigrantsadmittedintotheUKtoliveandwork.Wewillconsiderjointlythemechanismforimplementingthelimit.
• Wewillendthedetentionofchildrenforimmigrationpurposes.
• WewillcreateadedicatedBorderPoliceForce,aspartofarefocusedSeriousOrganisedCrimeAgency,toenhancenationalsecurity,improveimmigrationcontrolsandcrackdownonthetraffickingofpeople,weaponsanddrugs.Wewillworkwithpoliceforcestostrengthenarrangementstodealwithseriouscrimeandothercross-boundarypolicingchallenges,andextendcollaborationbetweenforcestodeliverbettervalueformoney.
• WesupportE-bordersandwillreintroduceexitchecks.
• WewillapplytransitionalcontrolsasamatterofcourseinthefutureforallnewEUMemberStates.
• Wewillintroducenewmeasurestominimiseabuseoftheimmigrationsystem,forexampleviastudentroutes,andwilltacklehumantraffickingasapriority.
• Wewillexplorenewwaystoimprovethecurrentasylumsystemtospeeduptheprocessingofapplications.
Band1oftheSeniorCivilServicepayscale,andorganogramsthatincludeallpositionsinthosebodies.
• WewillrequireanyonepaidmorethanthePrimeMinisterinthecentrallyfundedpublicsectortohavetheirsalarysignedoffbytheTreasury.
• Wewillregulatelobbyingthroughintroducingastatutoryregisteroflobbyistsandensuringgreatertransparency.
• Wewillalsopursueadetailedagreementonlimitingdonationsandreformingpartyfundinginordertoremovebigmoneyfrompolitics.
• WewillstrengthenthepowersofSelectCommitteestoscrutinisemajorpublicappointments.
• Wewillintroducenewprotectionsforwhistleblowersinthepublicsector.
• Wewilltakestepstoopenupgovernmentprocurementandreducecosts;andwewillpublishgovernmentICTcontractsonline.
• Wewillcreatealevelplayingfieldforopen-sourcesoftwareandwillenablelargeICTprojectstobesplitintosmallercomponents.
• Wewillrequirefull,onlinedisclosureofallcentralgovernmentspendingandcontractsover£25,000.
• Wewillcreateanew‘righttodata’sothatgovernment-helddatasetscanberequestedandusedbythepublic,andthenpublishedonaregularbasis.
• Wewillrequireallcouncilstopublishmeetingminutesandlocalserviceandperformancedata.
• Wewillrequireallcouncilstopublishitemsofspendingabove£500,andtopublishcontractsandtenderdocumentsinfull.
• Wewillensurethatalldatapublishedbypublicbodiesispublishedinanopenandstandardisedformat,sothatitcanbeusedeasilyandwithminimalcostbythirdparties.
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• Wewillpushhardin2010tomakegreaterprogressintacklingmaternalandinfantmortality.
• WewillworktoacceleratetheprocessofrelievingHeavilyIndebtedPoorCountriesoftheirdebt.
• WewillsupporteffortstoestablishanInternationalArmsTradeTreatytolimitthesalesofarmstodangerousregimes.
• Wewillsupportpro-developmenttradedeals,includingtheproposedPan-AfricanFreeTradeArea.
• WewillsupportinnovativeandeffectivesmallerBritishnon-governmentalorganisationsthatarecommittedtotacklingpoverty.
• Wewillexplorewaysofhelpingtheverypoorestdevelopingcountriestotakepartininternationalclimatechangenegotiations.
• WewillensurethatUKTradeandInvestmentandtheExportCreditsGuaranteeDepartmentbecomechampionsforBritishcompaniesthatdevelopandexportinnovativegreentechnologiesaroundtheworld,insteadofsupportinginvestmentindirtyfossil-fuelenergyproduction.
• Wewillprovideamoreintegratedapproachtopost-conflictreconstructionwheretheBritishmilitaryisinvolved–buildingontheStabilisationUnitinWhitehallandcreatinganewStabilisationandReconstructionForcetobridgethegapbetweenthemilitaryandthereconstructioneffort.
• Wewillreviewwhatactioncanbetakenagainst‘vulturefunds’.
• WewillsupportreformofglobalfinancialinstitutionssuchastheWorldBankandtheInternationalMonetaryFundinordertoincreasetheinvolvementofdevelopingnations.
18.INTERNATIONALDEVELOPMENT
TheGovernmentbelievesthateveninthesedifficulteconomictimes,theUKhasamoralresponsibilitytohelpthepoorestpeopleintheworld.Wewillhonourouraidcommitments,butatthesametimewillensuremuchgreatertransparencyandscrutinyofaidspendingtodelivervalueformoneyforBritishtaxpayersandtomaximisetheimpactofouraidbudget.
• Wewillhonourourcommitmenttospend0.7%ofGNIonoverseasaidfrom2013,andtoenshrinethiscommitmentinlaw.
• Wewillencourageothercountriestofulfiltheiraidcommitments.
• WewillsupportactionstoachievetheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.Inparticular,wewillprioritiseaidspendingonprogrammestoensurethateveryonehasaccesstocleanwater,sanitation,healthcareandeducation;toreducematernalandinfantmortality;andtorestrictthespreadofmajordiseaseslikeHIV/AIDS,TBandmalaria.Wewillrecognisethevitalroleofwomenindevelopment,promotegenderequalityandfocusontherightsofwomen,childrenanddisabledpeopletoaccessservices.
• Wewillusetheaidbudgettosupportthedevelopmentoflocaldemocraticinstitutions,civilsocietygroups,themediaandenterprise;andsupporteffortstotacklecorruption.
• WewillintroducefulltransparencyinaidandpublishdetailsofallUKaidspendingonline. Wewillpushforsimilarlyhighlevelsoftransparencyinternationally.
• WewillcreatenewmechanismstogiveBritishpeopleadirectsayinhowanelementoftheaidbudgetisspent.
• Wewillkeepaiduntiedfromcommercialinterests,andwillmaintainDfIDasanindependentdepartmentfocusedonpovertyreduction.
• WewillsticktotheruleslaiddownbytheOECDaboutwhatspendingcountsasaid.
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• WewilldrawonarangeofServiceAcademiestoofferpre-employmenttrainingandworkplacementsforunemployedpeople.
• WewilldeveloplocalWorkClubs–placeswhereunemployedpeoplecangathertoexchangeskills,findopportunities,makecontactsandprovidemutualsupport.
• Wewillinvestigatehowtosimplifythebenefit systeminordertoimproveincentivestowork.
20.JUSTICETheGovernmentbelievesthatmoreneedstobedonetoensurefairnessinthejusticesystem.Thismeansintroducingmoreeffectivesentencingpolicies,aswellasoverhaulingthesystemofrehabilitationtoreducereoffendingandprovidegreatersupportandprotectionforthevictimsofcrime.
• Wewillintroducea‘rehabilitationrevolution’thatwillpayindependentproviderstoreducereoffending,paidforbythesavingsthisnewapproachwillgeneratewithinthecriminaljusticesystem.
• Wewillconductafullreviewofsentencingpolicytoensurethatitiseffectiveindeterringcrime,protectingthepublic,punishingoffendersandcuttingreoffending.Inparticular,wewillensurethatsentencingfordrugusehelpsoffenderscomeoffdrugs.
• Wewillexplorealternativeformsofsecure,treatment-basedaccommodationformentallyillanddrugsoffenders.
• WewillimplementthePrisoners’EarningsAct1996toallowdeductionsfromtheearningsofprisonersinproperlypaidworktobepaidintotheVictims’Fund.
• WewillconsiderhowtouseproceedsfromtheVictimSurchargetodeliverupto15newrapecrisiscentres,andgiveexistingrapecrisiscentresstable,long-termfunding.
• WewillcarryoutafundamentalreviewofLegalAidtomakeitworkmoreefficiently.
19.JOBSANDWELFARETheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtoencourageresponsibilityandfairnessinthewelfaresystem.Thatmeansprovidinghelpforthosewhocannotwork,trainingandtargetedsupportforthoselookingforwork,butsanctionsforthosewhoturndownreasonableoffersofworkortraining.
• Wewillendallexistingwelfaretoworkprogrammesandcreateasinglewelfaretoworkprogrammetohelpallunemployedpeoplegetbackintowork.
• WewillensurethatJobseeker’sAllowanceclaimantsfacingthemostsignificantbarrierstoworkarereferredtothenewwelfaretoworkprogrammeimmediately,notafter12monthsasiscurrentlythecase.WewillensurethatJobseeker’sAllowanceclaimantsagedunder25arereferredtotheprogrammeafteramaximumofsixmonths.
• Wewillrealigncontractswithwelfaretoworkserviceproviderstoreflectmorecloselytheresultstheyachieveingettingpeoplebackintowork.
• Wewillreformthefundingmechanismusedbygovernmenttofinancewelfaretoworkprogrammestoreflectthefactthatinitialinvestmentdeliverslatersavingsthroughlowerbenefitexpenditure,includingcreatinganintegratedworkprogrammewithoutcomefundingbasedupontheDEL/AMEswitch.
• Wewillensurethatreceiptofbenefitsforthoseabletoworkisconditionalontheirwillingnesstowork.
• WesupporttheNationalMinimumWagebecauseoftheprotectionitgiveslow-incomeworkersandtheincentivestoworkitprovides.
• Wewillre-assessallcurrentclaimantsofIncapacityBenefitfortheirreadinesstowork.ThoseassessedasfullycapableforworkwillbemovedontoJobseeker’sAllowance.
• Wewillsupportwould-beentrepreneursthroughanewprogramme–WorkforYourself–whichwillgivetheunemployedaccesstobusinessmentorsandstart-uploans.
24 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
22.NHSTheGovernmentbelievesthattheNHSisanimportantexpressionofournationalvalues.WearecommittedtoanNHSthatisfreeatthepointofuseandavailabletoeveryonebasedonneed,nottheabilitytopay.WewanttofreeNHSstafffrompoliticalmicromanagement,increasedemocraticparticipationintheNHSandmaketheNHSmoreaccountabletothepatientsthatitserves.Thatwaywewilldriveupstandards,supportprofessionalresponsibility,deliverbettervalueformoneyandcreateahealthiernation.
• WewillguaranteethathealthspendingincreasesinrealtermsineachyearoftheParliament,whilerecognisingtheimpactthisdecisionwillhaveonotherdepartments.
• Wewillstopthetop-downreorganisationsoftheNHSthathavegotinthewayofpatientcare.Wearecommittedtoreducingduplicationandtheresourcesspentonadministration,anddivertingtheseresourcesbacktofront-linecare.
• Wewillsignificantlycutthenumberofhealthquangos.
• WewillcutthecostofNHSadministrationbyathirdandtransferresourcestosupportdoctorsandnursesonthefrontline.
• WewillstopthecentrallydictatedclosureofA&Eandmaternitywards,sothatpeoplehavebetteraccesstolocalservices.
• WewillstrengthenthepowerofGPsaspatients’expertguidesthroughthehealthsystembyenablingthemtocommissioncareontheirbehalf.
• Wewillensurethatthereisastrongervoiceforpatientslocallythroughdirectlyelectedindividualsontheboardsoftheirlocalprimarycaretrust(PCT).TheremainderofthePCT’sboardwillbeappointedbytherelevantlocalauthorityorauthorities,andtheChiefExecutiveandprincipalofficerswillbeappointedbytheSecretaryofStateontheadviceofthenewindependentNHSboard.Thiswillensuretherightbalancebetween
• Wewillchangethelawsothathistoricalconvictionsforconsensualgaysexwithover-16swillbetreatedasspentandwillnotshowuponcriminalrecordschecks.
• Wewillextendanonymityinrapecasestodefendants.
• Wewillintroduceeffectivemeasurestotackleanti-socialbehaviourandlow-levelcrime,includingformsofrestorativejusticesuchasNeighbourhoodJusticePanels.
21.NATIONALSECURITYTheGovernmentbelievesthatitsprimaryresponsibilityistoensurenationalsecurity.Weneedacoherentapproachtonationalsecurityissuesacrossgovernment,andwewilltakeactiontotackleterrorism,anditscauses,athomeandabroad.
• WehaveestablishedaNationalSecurityCouncilandappointedaNationalSecurityAdviser.
• WehavecommencedaStrategicDefenceandSecurityReview,commissionedandoverseenbytheNationalSecurityCouncil,withstrongTreasuryinvolvement.WewillalsodevelopandpublishanewNationalSecurityStrategy.
• WewillurgentlyreviewControlOrders,aspartofawiderreviewofcounter-terroristlegislation,measuresandprogrammes.Wewillseektofindapracticalwaytoallowtheuseofinterceptevidenceincourt.
• Wewilldenypublicfundstoanygroupthathasrecentlyespousedorincitedviolenceorhatred.Wewillproscribesuchorganisations,subjecttotheadviceofthepoliceandsecurityandintelligenceagencies.
• WebelievethatBritainshouldbeabletodeportforeignnationalswhothreatenoursecuritytocountrieswherethereareverifiableguaranteesthattheywillnotbetortured.Wewillseektoextendtheseguaranteestomorecountries.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 25
• WewillseektostopforeignhealthcareprofessionalsworkingintheNHSunlesstheyhavepassedrobustlanguageandcompetencetests.
• Doctorsandnursesneedtobeabletousetheirprofessionaljudgementaboutwhatisrightforpatientsandwewillsupportthisbygivingfront-linestaffmorecontroloftheirworkingenvironment.
• WewillstrengthentheroleoftheCareQualityCommissionsoitbecomesaneffectivequalityinspectorate.WewilldevelopMonitorintoaneconomicregulatorthatwilloverseeaspectsofaccess,competitionandprice-settingintheNHS.
• WewillestablishanindependentNHSboardtoallocateresourcesandprovidecommissioningguidelines.
• Wewillenablepatientstoratehospitalsanddoctorsaccordingtothequalityofcaretheyreceived,andwewillrequirehospitalstobeopenaboutmistakesandalwaystellpatientsifsomethinghasgonewrong.
• Wewillmeasureoursuccessonthehealthresultsthatreallymatter–suchasimprovingcancerandstrokesurvivalratesorreducinghospitalinfections.
• Wewillpublishdetaileddataabouttheperformanceofhealthcareprovidersonline,soeveryonewillknowwhoisprovidingagoodserviceandwhoisfallingbehind.
• Wewillputpatientsinchargeofmakingdecisionsabouttheircare,includingcontroloftheirhealthrecords.
• WewillcreateaCancerDrugsFundtoenablepatientstoaccessthecancerdrugstheirdoctorsthinkwillhelpthem,paidforusingmoneysavedbytheNHSthroughourpledgetostoptheriseinEmployerNationalInsurancecontributionsfromApril2011.
• WewillreformNICEandmovetoasystemofvalue-basedpricing,sothatallpatientscanaccessthedrugsandtreatmentstheirdoctorsthinktheyneed.
locallyaccountableindividualsandtechnicalexpertise.
• ThelocalPCTwillactasachampionforpatientsandcommissionthoseresidualservicesthatarebestundertakenatawiderlevel,ratherthandirectlybyGPs.Itwillalsotakeresponsibilityforimprovingpublichealthforpeopleintheirarea,workingcloselywiththelocalauthorityandotherlocalorganisations.
• Ifalocalauthorityhasconcernsaboutasignificantproposedclosureoflocalservices,forexampleanA&Edepartment,itwillhavetherighttochallengehealthorganisations,andreferthecasetotheIndependentReconfigurationPanel.ThePanelwouldthenprovideadvicetotheSecretaryofStateforHealth.
• WewillgiveeverypatienttherighttochoosetoregisterwiththeGPtheywant,withoutbeingrestrictedbywheretheylive.
• Wewilldevelopa24/7urgentcareserviceineveryareaofEngland,includingGPout-of-hoursservices,andensureeverypatientcanaccessalocalGP.Wewillmakecaremoreaccessiblebyintroducingasinglenumberforeverykindofurgentcareandbyusingtechnologytohelppeoplecommunicatewiththeirdoctors.
• WewillrenegotiatetheGPcontractandincentivisewaysofimprovingaccesstoprimarycareindisadvantagedareas.
• WewillmaketheNHSworkbetterbyextendingbestpracticeonimprovingdischargefromhospital,maximisingthenumberofdaycareoperations,reducingdelayspriortooperations,andwherepossibleenablingcommunityaccesstocareandtreatments.
• Wewillhelpelderlypeopleliveathomeforlongerthroughsolutionssuchashomeadaptationsandcommunitysupportprogrammes.
• Wewillprioritisedementiaresearchwithinthehealthresearchanddevelopmentbudget.
26 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillphaseoutthedefaultretirementageandholdareviewtosetthedateatwhichthestatepensionagestartstoriseto66,althoughitwillnotbesoonerthan2016formenand2020forwomen.Wewillendtherulesrequiringcompulsoryannuitisationat75.
• WewillimplementtheParliamentaryandHealthOmbudsman’srecommendationtomakefairandtransparentpaymentstoEquitableLifepolicyholders,throughanindependentpaymentscheme,fortheirrelativelossasaconsequenceofregulatoryfailure.
• Wewillexplorethepotentialtogivepeoplegreaterflexibilityinaccessingpartoftheirpersonalpensionfundearly.
• Wewillprotectkeybenefitsforolderpeoplesuchasthewinterfuelallowance,freeTVlicences,freebustravel,andfreeeyetestsandprescriptions.
• Wewillsimplifytherulesandregulationsrelatingtopensionstohelpreinvigorateoccupationalpensions,encouragingcompaniestoofferhigh-qualitypensionstoallemployees,andwewillworkwithbusinessandtheindustrytosupportautoenrolment.
24.POLITICALREFORMTheGovernmentbelievesthatourpoliticalsystemisbroken.Weurgentlyneedfundamentalpoliticalreform,includingareferendumonelectoralreform,muchgreaterco-operationacrosspartylines,andchangestoourpoliticalsystemtomakeitfarmoretransparentandaccountable.
• Wewillestablishfive-yearfixed-termParliaments.WewillputabindingmotionbeforetheHouseofCommonsstatingthatthenextgeneralelectionwillbeheldonthefirstThursdayofMay2015.Followingthismotion,wewilllegislatetomakeprovisionforfixed-termParliamentsoffiveyears.Thislegislationwillalsoprovidefordissolutionif55%ormoreoftheHousevotesinfavour.
• WewillintroduceanewdentistrycontractthatwillfocusonachievinggooddentalhealthandincreasingaccesstoNHSdentistry,withanadditionalfocusontheoralhealthofschoolchildren.
• Wewillprovide£10millionayearbeyond2011fromwithinthebudgetoftheDepartmentofHealthtosupportchildren’shospicesintheirvitalwork.Andsothatpropersupportforthemostsickchildrenandadultscancontinueinthesettingoftheirchoice,wewillintroduceanewper-patientfundingsystemforallhospicesandprovidersofpalliativecare.
• WewillencourageNHSorganisationstoworkbetterwiththeirlocalpoliceforcestoclampdownonanyonewhoisaggressiveandabusivetostaff.
• Wearecommittedtothecontinuousimprovementofthequalityofservicestopatients,andtoachievingthisthroughmuchgreaterinvolvementofindependentandvoluntaryproviders.
• WewillgiveeverypatientthepowertochooseanyhealthcareproviderthatmeetsNHSstandards,withinNHSprices.Thisincludesindependent,voluntaryandcommunitysectorproviders.
23.PENSIONSANDOLDERPEOPLE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatpeopledeservedignityandrespectinoldage,andthattheyshouldbeprovidedwiththesupporttheyneed.Thatmeanssafeguardingkeybenefitsandpensions,andtakingactiontomakeiteasierforolderpeopletoworkorvolunteer.
• WewillrestoretheearningslinkforthebasicstatepensionfromApril2011,witha‘tripleguarantee’thatpensionsareraisedbythehigherofearnings,pricesor2.5%.
• Wewillcommittoestablishinganindependentcommissiontoreviewthelong-termaffordabilityofpublicsectorpensions,whileprotectingaccruedrights.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 27
• WewillcuttheperksandbureaucracyassociatedwithParliament.
• WewillconsultwiththeIndependentParliamentaryStandardsAuthorityonhowtomoveawayfromthegenerousfinal-salarypensionsystemforMPs.
• Wewillfund200all-postalprimariesoverthisParliament,targetedatseatswhichhavenotchangedhandsformanyyears.ThesefundswillbeallocatedtoallpoliticalpartieswithseatsinParliamentthattheytakeup,inproportiontotheirshareofthetotalvoteinthelastgeneralelection.
• Wewillensurethatanypetitionthatsecures100,000signatureswillbeeligibleforformaldebateinParliament.ThepetitionwiththemostsignatureswillenablemembersofthepublictotableabilleligibletobevotedoninParliament.
• Wewillintroduceanew‘publicreadingstage’forbillstogivethepublicanopportunitytocommentonproposedlegislationonline,andadedicated‘publicreadingday’withinabill’scommitteestagewherethosecommentswillbedebatedbythecommitteescrutinisingthe bill.
• Wewillimprovethecivilservice,andmakeiteasiertorewardthebestcivilservantsandremovetheleasteffective.
• WewillreformtheCivilServiceCompensationSchemetobringitintolinewithpracticeintheprivatesector.
• WewillputalimitonthenumberonSpecialAdvisers.
• WewillintroduceextrasupportforpeoplewithdisabilitieswhowanttobecomeMPs,councillorsorotherelectedofficials.
• WewillopenupWhitehallrecruitmentbypublishingcentralgovernmentjobvacanciesonline.
• WewillpublishdetailsofeveryUKprojectthatreceivesover£25,000ofEUfunds.
• Wewillgiveresidentsthepowertoinstigatelocalreferendumsonanylocalissue.
• WewillbringforwardaReferendumBillonelectoralreform,whichincludesprovisionfortheintroductionoftheAlternativeVoteintheeventofapositiveresultinthereferendum,aswellasforthecreationoffewerandmoreequalsizedconstituencies.WewillwhipbothParliamentarypartiesinbothHousestosupportasimplemajorityreferendumontheAlternativeVote,withoutprejudicetothepositionspartieswilltakeduringsuchareferendum.
• Wewillbringforwardearlylegislationtointroduceapowerofrecall,allowingvoterstoforceaby-electionwhereanMPisfoundtohaveengagedinseriouswrongdoingandhavinghadapetitioncallingforaby-electionsignedby10%ofhisorherconstituents.
• Wewillestablishacommitteetobringforwardproposalsforawhollyormainlyelectedupperchamberonthebasisofproportionalrepresentation.ThecommitteewillcomeforwardwithadraftmotionbyDecember2010.Itislikelythatthiswilladvocatesinglelongtermsofoffice.ItisalsolikelythattherewillbeagrandfatheringsystemforcurrentPeers.Intheinterim,Lordsappointmentswillbemadewiththeobjectiveofcreatingasecondchamberthatisreflectiveoftheshareofthevotesecuredbythepoliticalpartiesinthelastgeneralelection.
• WewillbringforwardtheproposalsoftheWrightCommitteeforreformtotheHouseofCommonsinfull–startingwiththeproposedcommitteeformanagementofbackbenchbusiness.AHouseBusinessCommittee,toconsidergovernmentbusiness,willbeestablishedbythethirdyearoftheParliament.
• Wewillreduceelectoralfraudbyspeedinguptheimplementationofindividualvoterregistration.
• Wewillestablishacommissiontoconsiderthe‘WestLothianquestion’.
• WewillpreventthepossiblemisuseofParliamentaryprivilegebyMPsaccusedofseriouswrongdoing.
28 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
25.PUBLICHEALTHTheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedactiontopromotepublichealth,andencouragebehaviourchangetohelppeoplelivehealthierlives.Weneedanambitiousstrategytopreventill-healthwhichharnessesinnovativetechniquestohelppeopletakeresponsibilityfortheirownhealth.
• Wewillgivelocalcommunitiesgreatercontroloverpublichealthbudgetswithpaymentbytheoutcomestheyachieveinimprovingthehealthoflocalresidents.
• WewillgiveGPsgreaterincentivestotacklepublichealthproblems.
• Wewillinvestigatewaysofimprovingaccesstopreventativehealthcareforthoseindisadvantagedareastohelptacklehealthinequalities.
• Wewillensuregreateraccesstotalkingtherapiestoreducelong-termcostsfortheNHS.
26.SCHOOLSTheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtoreformourschoolsystemtotackleeducationalinequality,whichhaswidenedinrecentyears,andtogivegreaterpowerstoparentsandpupilstochooseagoodschool.Wewanttoensurehighstandardsofdisciplineintheclassroom,robuststandardsandthehighestqualityteaching.Wealsobelievethatthestateshouldhelpparents,communitygroupsandotherscometogethertoimprovetheeducationsystembystartingnewschools.
• Wewillpromotethereformofschoolsinordertoensurethatnewproviderscanenterthestateschoolsysteminresponsetoparentaldemand;thatallschoolshavegreaterfreedomoverthecurriculum;andthatallschoolsareheldproperlytoaccount.
• Wewillfundasignificantpremiumfordisadvantagedpupilsfromoutsidetheschoolsbudgetbyreductionsinspendingelsewhere.
• Wewillgiveparents,teachers,charitiesandlocalcommunitiesthechancetosetupnew
• Wewillstopplanstoimposesupplementarybusinessratesonfirmsifamajorityofthefirmsaffecteddonotgivetheirconsent.
• Wewillgiveresidentsthepowertovetoexcessivecounciltaxincreases.
• Wewillcontinuetopromotepeace,stabilityandeconomicprosperityinNorthernIreland,standingfirmlybehindtheagreementsnegotiatedandinstitutionstheyestablish.WewillworktobringNorthernIrelandbackintothemainstreamofUKpolitics,includingproducingagovernmentpaperexaminingpotentialmechanismsforchangingthecorporationtaxrateinNorthernIreland.
• WewillimplementtheproposalsoftheCalmanCommissionandintroduceareferendumonfurtherWelshdevolution.
• WewillreviewthecontrolanduseofaccumulatedandfuturerevenuesfromtheFossilFuelLevyinScotland.
• WerecognisetheconcernsexpressedbytheHolthamCommissiononthesystemofdevolutionfunding.However,atthistime,theprioritymustbetoreducethedeficitandthereforeanychangetothesystemmustawaitthestabilisationofthepublicfinances.Dependingontheoutcomeoftheforthcomingreferendum,wewillestablishaprocesssimilartotheCalmanCommissionfortheWelshAssembly.WewilltakeforwardtheSustainableHomesLegislativeCompetenceOrder.
• WewillmaketherunningofgovernmentmoreefficientbyintroducingenhancedDepartmentalBoardswhichwillformcollectiveoperationalleadershipofgovernmentdepartments.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 29
• Wewillkeepexternalassessment,butwillreviewhowKeyStage2testsoperateinfuture.
• WewillensurethatallnewAcademiesfollowaninclusiveadmissionspolicy.Wewillworkwithfaithgroupstoenablemorefaithschoolsandfacilitateinclusiveadmissionspoliciesinasmanyoftheseschoolsaspossible.
27.SOCIALACTIONTheGovernmentbelievesthattheinnovationandenthusiasmofcivilsocietyisessentialintacklingthesocial,economicandpoliticalchallengesthattheUKfacestoday.Wewilltakeactiontosupportandencouragesocialresponsibility,volunteeringandphilanthropy,andmakeiteasierforpeopletocometogethertoimprovetheircommunitiesandhelponeanother.
• Wewillsupportthecreationandexpansionofmutuals,co-operatives,charitiesandsocialenterprises,andenablethesegroupstohavemuchgreaterinvolvementintherunningofpublicservices.
• Wewillgivepublicsectorworkersanewrighttoformemployee-ownedco-operativesandbidtotakeovertheservicestheydeliver.Thiswillempowermillionsofpublicsectorworkerstobecometheirownbossandhelpthemtodeliverbetterservices.
• WewilltrainanewgenerationofcommunityorganisersandsupportthecreationofneighbourhoodgroupsacrosstheUK,especiallyinthemostdeprivedareas.
• Wewilltakearangeofmeasurestoencouragecharitablegivingandphilanthropy.
• WewillintroduceNationalCitizenService.Theinitialflagshipprojectwillprovideaprogrammefor16yearoldstogivethemachancetodeveloptheskillsneededtobeactiveandresponsiblecitizens,mixwithpeoplefromdifferentbackgrounds,andstartgettinginvolvedintheircommunities.
• Wewillusefundsfromdormantbankaccountstoestablisha‘BigSocietyBank’,whichwillprovidenewfinancefor
schools,aspartofourplanstoallownewproviderstoenterthestateschoolsysteminresponsetoparentaldemand.
• WewillsupportTeachFirst,createTeachNowtobuildontheGraduateTeacherProgramme,andseekotherwaystoimprovethequalityoftheteachingprofession.
• Wewillreformtheexistingrigidnationalpayandconditionsrulestogiveschoolsgreaterfreedomstopaygoodteachersmoreanddealwithpoorperformance.
• Wewillhelpschoolstacklebullyinginschools,especiallyhomophobicbullying.
• Wewillsimplifytheregulationofstandardsineducationandtargetinspectiononareasoffailure.
• Wewillgiveanonymitytoteachersaccusedbypupilsandtakeothermeasurestoprotectagainstfalseaccusations.
• Wewillseektoattractmoretopscienceandmathsgraduatestobeteachers.
• Wewillpublishperformancedataoneducationalproviders,aswellaspastexampapers.
• WewillcreatemoreflexibilityintheexamssystemssothatstateschoolscanofferqualificationsliketheIGCSE.
• Wewillreformleaguetablessothatschoolsareabletofocuson,anddemonstrate,theprogressofchildrenofallabilities.
• Wewillgiveheadsandteachersthepowerstheyneedtoensuredisciplineintheclassroomandpromotegoodbehaviour.
• Webelievethemostvulnerablechildrendeservetheveryhighestqualityofcare.Wewillimprovediagnosticassessmentforschoolchildren,preventtheunnecessaryclosureofspecialschools,andremovethebiastowardsinclusion.
• Wewillimprovethequalityofvocationaleducation,includingincreasingflexibilityfor14–19yearoldsandcreatingnewTechnicalAcademiesaspartofourplanstodiversifyschoolsprovision.
30 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
29.TAXATIONTheGovernmentbelievesthatthetaxsystemneedstobereformedtomakeitmorecompetitive,simpler,greenerandfairer.WeneedtotakeactiontoensurethatthetaxframeworkbetterreflectsthevaluesofthisGovernment.
• Wewillincreasethepersonalallowanceforincometaxtohelplowerandmiddleincomeearners.WewillannounceinthefirstBudgetasubstantialincreaseinthepersonalallowancefromApril2011,withthebenefitsfocusedonthosewithlowerandmiddleincomes.ThiswillbefundedwiththemoneythatwouldhavebeenusedtopayfortheincreaseinemployeeNationalInsurancethresholdsproposedbytheConservativeParty,aswellasrevenuesfromincreasesinCapitalGainsTaxratesfornon-businessassetsasdescribedbelow.TheincreaseinemployerNationalInsurancethresholdsproposedbytheConservativeswillgoaheadinordertostoptheplannedjobstax.
• Wewillfurtherincreasethepersonalallowanceto£10,000,makingrealtermsstepseachyeartowardsmeetingthisasalonger-termpolicyobjective.Wewillprioritisethisoverothertaxcuts,includingcutstoInheritanceTax.
• WewillalsoensurethatprovisionismadeforLiberalDemocratMPstoabstainonbudgetresolutionstointroducetransferabletaxallowancesformarriedcoupleswithoutprejudicetothecoalitionagreement.
• Wewillreformthetaxationofairtravelbyswitchingfromaper-passengertoaper-planeduty,andwillensurethataproportionofanyincreasedrevenuesovertimewillbeusedtohelpfundincreasesinthepersonalallowance.
• Wewillseekwaysoftaxingnon-businesscapitalgainsatratessimilarorclosetothoseappliedtoincome,withgenerousexemptionsforentrepreneurialbusinessactivities.
• Wewillmakeeveryefforttotackletaxavoidance,includingdetaileddevelopmentofLiberalDemocratproposals.
neighbourhoodgroups,charities,socialenterprisesandothernon-governmentalbodies.
• Wewilltakearangeofmeasurestoencouragevolunteeringandinvolvementinsocialaction,includinglaunchinganationaldaytocelebrateandencouragesocialaction,andmakeregularcommunityserviceanelementofcivilservicestaffappraisals.
28.SOCIALCAREANDDISABILITY
TheGovernmentbelievesthatpeopleneedingcaredeservetobetreatedwithdignityandrespect.Weunderstandtheurgencyofreformingthesystemofsocialcaretoprovidemuchmorecontroltoindividualsandtheircarers,andtoeasethecostburdenthattheyandtheirfamiliesface.
• Wewillestablishacommissiononlong-termcare,toreportwithinayear.Thecommissionwillconsiderarangeofideas,includingbothavoluntaryinsuranceschemetoprotecttheassetsofthosewhogointoresidentialcare,andapartnershipschemeasproposedbyDerekWanless.
• Wewillbreakdownbarriersbetweenhealthandsocialcarefundingtoincentivisepreventativeaction.
• Wewillextendthegreaterroll-outofpersonalbudgetstogivepeopleandtheircarersmorecontrolandpurchasingpower.
• Wewillusedirectpaymentstocarersandbettercommunity-basedprovisiontoimproveaccesstorespitecare.
• WewillreformAccesstoWork,sodisabledpeoplecanapplyforjobswithfundingalreadysecuredforanyadaptationsandequipmenttheywillneed.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 31
• Wewillsupportsustainabletravelinitiatives,includingthepromotionofcyclingandwalking,andwillencouragejointworkingbetweenbusoperatorsandlocalauthorities.
• Wearecommittedtofairpricingforrailtravel.
• WewillworktowardstheintroductionofanewsystemofHGVroaduserchargingtoensureafairerarrangementforUKhauliers.
• Wewillstopcentralgovernmentfundingfornewfixedspeedcamerasandswitchtomoreeffectivewaysofmakingourroadssafer,includingauthorising‘drugalyser’technology.
• Wewilltacklerogueprivatesectorwheelclampers.
31.UNIVERSITIESANDFURTHEREDUCATION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatouruniversitiesareessentialforbuildingastrongandinnovativeeconomy.Wewilltakeactiontocreatemorecollegeanduniversityplaces,aswellashelptofosterstrongerlinksbetweenuniversities,collegesandindustries.
• Wewillseekwaystosupportthecreationofapprenticeships,internships,workpairings,andcollegeandworkplacetrainingplacesaspartofourwiderprogrammetogetBritainworking.
• Wewillsetcollegesfreefromdirectstatecontrolandabolishmanyofthefurthereducationquangos.Publicfundingshouldbefairandfollowthechoicesofstudents.
• WewillawaitLordBrowne’sfinalreportintohighereducationfunding,andwilljudgeitsproposalsagainsttheneedto:
– increasesocialmobility;
– takeintoaccounttheimpactonstudentdebt;
– ensureaproperlyfundeduniversitysector;
– improvethequalityofteaching;
– advancescholarship;and
• Wewillincreasetheproportionoftaxrevenueaccountedforbyenvironmentaltaxes.
• WewilltakemeasurestofulfilourEUtreatyobligationsinregardtothetaxationofholidaylettingthatdonotpenaliseUK-basedbusinesses.
• Wewillreviewthetaxationofnon-domiciledindividuals.
30.TRANSPORTTheGovernmentbelievesthatamoderntransportinfrastructureisessentialforadynamicandentrepreneurialeconomy,aswellastoimprovewell-beingandqualityoflife.Weneedtomakethetransportsectorgreenerandmoresustainable,withtougheremissionstandardsandsupportfornewtransporttechnologies.
• Wewillmandateanationalrechargingnetworkforelectricandplug-inhybridvehicles.
• Wewillgrantlongerrailfranchisesinordertogiveoperatorstheincentivetoinvestintheimprovementspassengerswant–likebetterservices,betterstations,longertrainsandbetterrollingstock.
• Wewillreformthewaydecisionsaremadeonwhichtransportprojectstoprioritise,sothatthebenefitsoflowcarbonproposals(includinglightrailschemes)arefullyrecognised.
• WewillmakeNetworkRailmoreaccountabletoitscustomers.
• Wewillestablishahighspeedrailnetworkaspartofourprogrammeofmeasurestofulfilourjointambitionsforcreatingalowcarboneconomy.OurvisionisofatrulynationalhighspeedrailnetworkforthewholeofBritain.Givenfinancialconstraints,wewillhavetoachievethisinphases.
• WesupportCrossrailandfurtherelectrificationoftherailnetwork.
• Wewillturntherailregulatorintoapowerfulpassengerchampion.
32 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
– attractahigherproportionofstudentsfromdisadvantagedbackgrounds.
• IftheresponseoftheGovernmenttoLordBrowne’sreportisonethatLiberalDemocratscannotaccept,thenarrangementswillbemadetoenableLiberalDemocratMPstoabstaininanyvote.
• Wewillreviewsupportforpart-timestudentsintermsofloansandfees.
• Wewillpublishmoreinformationaboutthecosts,graduateearningsandstudentsatisfactionofdifferentuniversitycourses.
• Wewillensurethatpublicfundingmechanismsforuniversityresearchsafeguarditsacademicintegrity.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 33
34 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
Thedeficitreductionprogrammetakesprecedenceoveranyoftheothermeasuresinthisagreement,andthespeedofimplementationofanymeasuresthathaveacosttothepublicfinanceswilldependondecisionstobemadeintheComprehensiveSpendingReview.
TheGovernmentfullysupportsthedevolutionofpowerstoNorthernIreland,ScotlandandWales.Asaresultofdevolution,manydecisionsmadebyUKMinistersorintheWestminsterParliamentnowapplytoEnglandonly.The NorthernIrelandExecutive,theScottishExecutiveandtheWelsh AssemblyGovernmentmaketheirownpolicyontheirdevolved issues.ThisdocumentthereforesetsouttheagreedprioritiesfortheCoalitionGovernmentinWestminster.
CabinetOffice22WhitehallLondonSW1A2WH
Publicationdate:May2010
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