Legislation
Queen's Speech: Latest
See all The MJ's coverage of the Queen's Speech, from Brexit to devolution, voter ID and plans to tackle violent crime
Queen's speech: Devo Bill expected in first Queen's Speech since 2017
Devolution is expected to feature in today’s Queen’s Speech as the Government outlines its planned legislation for the first time since 2017.
Plans for voter ID bill branded 'dangerous and undemocratic'
Plans to introduce voter ID across the whole country have been branded ‘dangerous, misguided and undemocratic’ by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS).
Devolution legislation planned for Queen's Speech
The Government is planning to launch the next round of devolution legislation in the Queen’s Speech, The MJ understands.
Named person scheme dropped
A mandatory named person scheme for every child in Scotland – underpinned by law – will not now happen, deputy first minister John Swinney has announced.
Care complaints becoming 'ever more serious'
The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) is having to carry out a higher proportion of detailed investigations, suggesting complaints about adult care are becoming ‘ever more serious’.
Think-tank calls for more local taxes
There appear to be ‘few’ legislative barriers to bringing in new local taxes as long as the money raised went towards local authority expenditure, think-tank IPPR Scotland has said.
Hopes of devolution framework revival
Sector sources remain hopeful that the long-promised devolution framework could still be revived after a private informal meeting with Government officials about the next steps.
Edinburgh welcomes tourism tax plan
SNP-controlled Edinburgh City Council has welcomed the inclusion of a Transient Visitor Levy Bill in the Scottish Government’s programme for Scotland.
Treasurers call for SEND funding injection ahead of next week's spending round
Three treasurers’ societies have urged the Department for Education (DfE) to make high needs funding its ‘number one priority’ in its talks with the Treasury ahead of next week's spending round.
Government stands firm after Pickles plea
The Government has said it ‘would not be appropriate’ to pay legal costs to whistleblowers in electoral fraud cases despite a former communities secretary revealing he fought for it to happen.
Labour proposes outsourcing reversal
Labour’s plans to reverse outsourcing of council services have drawn a mixed reaction from the sector.
Scotland to exclude pension strain from exit cap
Scotland will not follow England by counting the mandatory cost of pension strain towards the £95,000 cap on public sector exit payments, finance secretary Derek Mackay has said.
'Radical shake-up' for planning
The Scottish Government has hailed a ‘radical shake-up’ after the passing of the Planning Bill yesterday.
Combined strategy call to tackle homelessness
The Government should commit to a coherent combined housing and homelessness strategy, a report published today by a commission of experts has urged after a year-long investigation.
English Devolution Bill calls dismissed
The Government has dismissed calls for an English Devolution Bill in the first Queen’s Speech after the UK has left the EU.
EXCLUSIVE: Security fears after candidate addresses published
Security concerns have been raised after a loophole forced councils to publish the home addresses of candidates standing in the EU elections.
Councils lose legal bid to halt Heathrow expansion
The High Court has dismissed arguments against Heathrow expansion and found that the Government is free to ignore the Paris agreement on climate action until it forms part of UK law.
Call for greater focus on culture change in integration drive
Huge cultural and behavioural differences between health and care need more consideration, consultancy Impower has urged.
Move forward on business rates admin
The Government has taken the next step towards modernising the administration of business rates to ‘make them fit for the 21st century’.