London: In the House of Lords yesterday, the Queen delivered her speech to Parliament outlining Government business. The occasion was the State Opening of Parliament, which is a tradition that normally takes place in November each year.
Topics referred to by the Queen included those relating to the environment.
Queen Elizabeth II delivering the Queen’s Speech (Photo: Parliamentary © 2007)
She said:
“My Government is committed to protecting the environment and to tackling climate change, both at home and abroad.
“A Bill will be brought forward to make the United Kingdom the first country in the world to introduce a legally binding framework to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“My Government will introduce legislation to provide clean, secure and affordable supplies of energy.
“There will be legislation to tackle congestion and improve public transport."
In particular the climate change proposals directly refer to waste management issues.
Climate change and waste management
The proposed Climate Change Bill includes a specific measure to allow local authorities to pilot local authority incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling (see MoreThanWaste article).
Defra (the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) was reported to have confirmed recently that the emphasis is on the use of "pilots" should Councils wish to undertake a study.
“Incentives” have proved to be contentious in recent times with the national media running with headlines, often critical, referring to the subject as a waste tax or “pay as you throw”.
However the Climate Change Bill is much more wide ranging and is aimed at making the United Kingdom the first country in the world to introduce a legally binding framework to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Government says that the main elements of the Bill will:
• Make the Government’s 2050 target of at least 60% reduction in CO2 emissions legally-binding, with real progress by 2020;
• Introduce a new system of 5-year carbon budgets;
• Establish a new independent Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government on the optimum trajectory to the 2050 target; and
• Require Government to assess the risks from climate change in the UK and set out a sustainable programme of adaptation.
Black Rod summons the House of Commons (Photo: Parliamentary © 2007)
Much of the Bill applies to the whole of the UK and the Government is working closely with the Devolved Administrations, according to Defra.
State opening of Parliament
Although the State Opening of the UK Parliament usually takes place in November on the first day of the new parliamentary session, a further State Opening would occur following a general election.
The Queen delivers the Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords, the speech being given in the presence of members of both Houses of Parliament.
The House of Commons is summoned to hear the speech by an official known as Black Rod and in a symbol of the Commons' independence, the door to their chamber is slammed in his face and not opened until he has knocked on the door with his staff of office.