The King's Speech
The new legislation foreshadowed in the King's Speech indicates the possibility of a heavy programme of Parliamentary work, much of it dealing with tasks of reconstruction. The promise of measures to ensure " food, homes and employment " in the period of transi- tion is an echo of words already used by the Prime Minister—a generalisation to which the Speech added a number of particulars. In the sphere of education the country has already had an outline of the Government's intentions in the published White Paper, and a Bill embodying its proposals takes a major place in the Parlia- mentary programme. So far as the Beveridge Report is concerned, the Government is to state its views and proposals in regard to " an enlarged and unified system of social insurance," and also on the subject of a comprehensive health service and a new scheme of workmen's compensation. It looks as if the Government had not finally made up its mind on the shape of the legislation to follow, a decision on which is to be taken, in the words of the Speech, "in the light of your discussions." A Bill dealing with the re-develop- ment of destroyed or overcrowded areas will be introduced ; but on the urgent question of powers to control and direct the use of land the Speech offers, not a Bill, but a statement of the Government's examination of reports. A Bill to amend the franchise law has already been promised, and is mentioned in the Speech, as also is Mr. Bevin's measure providing for the training and employment of disabled persons. If all the proposals alluded to are embodied in measures 6ubmitted for legislation, Parliament will have a far busier pro- gramme dealing with domestic issues than in any previous period of the war. But it remains to be seen to what extent* the promised statements and discussions materialise in actual Bills.
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