A Bill to 'discourage the compensation culture' and a draft Legal Services Bill to enact the Clementi report on reforming legal services regulation were among the bumper legislative programme of 45 Bills and five draft Bills contained in the Queen's speech this week.

The Compensation Bill may clarify the existing common law on negligence, to make clear that there is no liability for untoward incidents that could not be avoided by taking reasonable care or exercising reasonable skill.


The Criminal Defence Service Bill, reintroducing means testing for magistrates' court cases, is to be brought back. The government will also 'take forward' its proposals for a new offence of corporate manslaughter.


Other measures include establishing a single system of service law for the armed forces, and reform of fraud, charities, mental health and company laws and the coroner service, while the Equality Bill will create the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. A Judicial Pensions Bill to protect the value of judges' pensions is also planned.