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The Queen's Speech in full
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have sought to present a united front as they set out their plans for the coalition's final year in power.
Pensions took centre stage in an 11 bill programme, with changes to annuities and workplace schemes.
Voters will also get limited powers to boot out misbehaving MPs and fracking firms will get new drilling rights.
Labour sources said it was "staggering" that the NHS and immigration were not mentioned in the Queen's Speech.
Among the measures announced were:
- A bill implementing reforms to annuities announced in March's Budget. In future, people will not be required to buy an annuity with their pension savings and will be able to draw their retirement income in one go if they choose
- A separate bill to allow employees to pay into collective pension funds shared with other workers, a move it is hoped will cut costs and encourage saving
- A new state-funded childcare subsidy worth up to £2,000 a year, replacing the existing employer-funded scheme
- A Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism bill offering extra legal protection for people being sued for negligence or breach of duty if they acted heroically or in the public interest
- Curbs on "excessive redundancy payments" for highly-paid public servants
- Tougher penalties for employers who fail to pay the minimum wage and a crackdown on the abuse of zero hours contracts
- Plans for a 5p charge for plastic bags in England as announced at last year's Lib Dem conference
- Reforms to speed up infrastructure projects, including new freedoms for the Highways Agency and allowing fracking firms to run shale gas pipelines deep under private land without getting prior permission
- New criminal sentences for those assisting organised crime syndicates, tougher sentence for cyber criminals and tougher powers to seize the assets of crime bosses - and making the possession of written paedophilia a criminal offence
- A Modern Slavery Bill with tougher penalties for human trafficking
- Help for pub landlords including a statutory code and a body to adjudicate disputes
- Giving voters the power to trigger by-elections where MPs have committed serious wrong-doing
The Queen presided over the state opening of Parliament for the 63rd time, amid the traditional pomp and ceremony.
"My government's legislative programme will continue to deliver on its long-term plan to build a stronger economy and a fairer society," she said in a speech written for her by ministers.
"To strengthen the economy and provide stability and security, my ministers will continue to reduce the country's deficit, helping to ensure that mortgage and interest rates remain low."
There was a moment of drama towards the end of the speech when one of the Queen's page boys, who carry her train as she arrives and leaves the chamber, appeared to faint.
A loud thud could be heard in the House of Lords, as she spoke of the need to work towards a "comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran".
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, who were sat nearest to the boy, showed concern as help was called to assist him and he was carried out of the chamber.
'Unashamedly pro-work'The planned legislation will be debated by MPs in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg have hit back at Labour's claims that the coalition has run out of steam and that the months leading up to next May's general election will be dominated by Conservative and Lib Dem wrangling as the two parties seek to differentiate themselves in the minds of voters.
In a joint statement issued with the Queen's Speech, the prime minister and his deputy said the coalition was "still taking bold steps" to "take Britain forward to a brighter future".
"We may be two parties, with two different philosophies but we understand one thing," they added.
"Countries rise when their people rise. So this Queen's Speech is unashamedly pro-work, pro-business and pro-aspiration."
Speculation ahead of the Speech that it could include a fresh crackdown on immigration, in the wake of UKIP's success in the European and local elections, proved groundless.
But it did include a renewed commitment to the Help to Buy scheme, following criticism from the European Commission and others that it is fuelling an unsustainable housing boom. The Speech also repeated David Cameron's commitment to promote reform of the European Union "including a stronger role for member states and national parliaments".
Plans to support the development of shale gas by the "fracking" process are among the most controversial measures included in the Speech.
BBC experts' views"When Her Majesty reads out what is, in effect, Parliament's "to do list" she's expected to quote her government's oft repeated promise to continue with its "long-term plan" - which may well produce a groan or two from some opposition MPs and peers. David Cameron and Nick Clegg are desperate to answer the charge that they have run out of ideas which their two parties can sign up to and are simply running down the clock until polling day." Read Nick Robinson's full preview.
"As you watch the state opening of parliament, remember it is one of the strongest ceremonial demonstrations of our liberty that we have. Democracy is not just the freedom to vote out a government we dislike; it is also the freedom not to be ruled by an autocratic monarch chosen by God. It is what our ancestors fought over in the civil war. And it is a right that we are reminded of every year." James Landale on how the Queen's Speech show us who isn't boss.
Greenpeace activists, who say the Infrastructure Bill will clear the way for fracking firms to drill under people's land and property without their permission, staged a protest at David Cameron's Oxfordshire home.
The activists erected security fencing around the prime minister's cottage in the Cotswold hamlet of Dean and put up a sign saying: "We apologise for any inconvenience we may cause while we frack under your home".
Plans to introduce a power of recall for misbehaving MPs could also spark controversy. The idea was promised in the 2010 coalition agreement but was thought to have been dropped after rows between senior Conservative and Lib Dem ministers.
Under the proposed legislation, a recall will only be triggered if MPs are given jail sentences of less than 12 months or if the House of Commons resolves that they have engaged in "serious wrongdoing". Voters would then have to collect the signatures of 10% of constituents to force a by-election.
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Carriage maker Jim Frecklington tells the story of the Queen's new state carriage which will take her to Parliament
Conservative backbencher Zac Goldsmith, who has been campaigning for tougher recall powers, said the proposed bill was "worse than meaningless" because a committee of MPs would still have the final say.
He said it would be "a waste of Parliament's time" unless it can be amended.
The state opening of Parliament, one of the highlights of the Westminster calendar, used to take place in the autumn but was moved to the early summer by the coalition government.
With Parliament taking a six-week summer recess from July and rising for a further five weeks for the party conference season in September, parliamentary time available to agree new legislation will be limited.
In addition, six bills - including one authorising the building of a new high-speed rail line between London and the West Midlands - are being carried over from the last session.
There are also three draft bills, setting out legislation to improve compensation for people whose property has been damaged in riots, protect charities from abuse and improve the governance of national parks in England.
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