Antisocial behaviour bill high on agenda

A new antisocial behaviour bill was expected to feature at the
heart of the Queen’s Speech delivered to the House of Commons this
week.

The aim of the bill, one of three criminal justice bills due to be
included, would be to tackle “low-level disorder”.

Measures to tackle truancy were expected to include the extension
of parenting orders for parents of habitual truants, the
introduction of on-the-spot fines for parents and the docking of
child benefit.

The two other crime bills were expected to update the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to improve the employment
opportunities of former offenders and reform laws on sex offences
to make the rape of a child a specific statutory offence.

A reimbursement bill would allow the government to introduce a
legal framework to bring into force the system of fines for delayed
discharges already outlined by health secretary Alan Milburn.

New bills on local government reform would pave the way for giving
greater flexibilities to top-performing councils and for the
establishment of regional assemblies with some devolved
powers.

The new mental health bill was also expected to feature, despite
criticism of the draft and calls for it to be overhauled.