The Law Society has responded to the coalition government’s proposals contained in today’s Queen’s speech.

The Society said it is ‘delighted’ with the government’s proposals to: bring forward plans to introduce a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill; bring forward greater safeguards in the DNA database; protect trial by jury; provide safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation; introduce further regulation of CCTV; and provide a new mechanism to ‘prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences’.

Chancery Lane said it will take a ‘particular interest’ in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, and the Parliamentary Reform Bill. Commenting on the Public Bodies Bill, the Society said it wants to ensure that all quangos in the legal sector ‘are value for money and further the public interest in a robust fashion’.

Law Society president Robert Heslett said: ‘Over the coming months we will be actively lobbying the new government to ensure that the principles of justice, fairness – and, in particular, the rule of law – are upheld and embedded in this new legislative programme.

‘We welcome the action the government has already taken to suspend home information packs and we await further details of the permanent abolition of HIPs. We also look forward to seeing the promised proposals to ensure that the Vetting and Barring Scheme is implemented on a more common sense level.

‘We will also want to work very closely with the government to ensure that the proposed fundamental review of legal aid ensures that the legal aid system is managed and funded as a frontline service, as important as health and education.’