The Coalition:
our programme for government
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
Freedom
Fairness
Responsibility
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TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
CONTENTS
1. Banking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
2 . Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3. CivilLiberties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4. CommunitiesandLocalGovernment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5. ConsumerProtection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
6. CrimeandPolicing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7. Culture,Olympics,MediaandSport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8. Defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
9. DeficitReduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10. EnergyandClimateChange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
11. Environment,FoodandRuralAffairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
12 . Equalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
13. Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
14. FamiliesandChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
15. ForeignAffairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
16. GovernmentTransparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
17. Immigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
18. InternationalDevelopment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
19. JobsandWelfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
20. Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
21. NationalSecurity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
22 . NHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
23. PensionsandOlderPeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
24. PoliticalReform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
25. PublicHealth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
26. Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
27. SocialAction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
28. SocialCareandDisability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
29. Taxation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
30. Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
31. UniversitiesandFurtherEducation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
FOREWORD
By David Cameron and Nick Clegg
ThisisanhistoricdocumentinBritishpolitics:
thefirsttimeinoverhalfacenturytwoparties
havecometogethertoputforwardaprogramme
forpartnershipgovernment.
Asourpartieshaveworkedtogetherithas
becomeincreasinglycleartousthat,although
therearedifferences,thereisalsocommon
ground.Weshareaconvictionthatthedays
ofbiggovernmentareover;thatcentralisation
andtop-downcontrolhaveprovedafailure.
Webelievethatthetimehascometodisperse
powermorewidelyinBritaintoday;torecognise
thatwewillonlymakeprogressifwehelp
peopletocometogethertomakelifebetter.
Inshort,itisourambitiontodistributepower
andopportunitytopeopleratherthanhoarding
authoritywithingovernment.Thatway,wecan
buildthefree,fairandresponsiblesocietywe
wanttosee.
Weareagreedthatthefirstdutyofgovernment
istosafeguardournationalsecurityandsupport
ourtroopsinAfghanistanandelsewhere–and
wewillfulfilthatduty.Wearealsoagreedthat
themosturgenttaskfacingthiscoalitionis
totackleourrecorddebts,becausewithout
soundfinances,noneofourambitionswillbe
deliverable.Difficultdecisionswillhavetobe
takeninthemonthsandyearsahead,butwe
willensurethatfairnessisattheheartofthose
decisionssothatallthosemostinneedare
protected.Workingtogether,weareconfident
thatwecantakethecountrythroughdifficult
timestobetterdaysahead.
Tacklingthedeficitisessential,butitisnotwhat
wecameintopoliticstoachieve.Westood
forParliament–andfortheleadershipofour
parties–withvisionsofaBritainbetterinevery
way.Andwehavefoundinthiscoalitionthat
ourvisionsarenotcompromisedbyworking
together;theyarestrengthenedandenhanced.
Thatiswhythiscoalitionhasthepotentialfor
era-changing,convention-challenging,radical
reform.
Forexample,webothwanttobuildanew
economyfromtherubbleoftheold.Wewill
supportsustainablegrowthandenterprise,
balancedacrossallregionsandallindustries,
andpromotethegreenindustriesthatareso
essentialforourfuture.Thisdocumentshows
how,withradicalplanstoreformourbroken
bankingsystemandnewincentivesforgreen
growth.
WebothwantaBritainwheresocialmobility
isunlocked;whereeveryone,regardlessof
background,hasthechancetoriseashighas
theirtalentsandambitionallowthem.Topave
theway,wehavebothagreedtosweeping
reformofwelfare,taxesand,mostofall,our
schools–withabreakingopenofthestate
monopolyandextramoneyfollowingthe
poorestpupilssothatthey,atlast,gettogoto
thebestschools,nottheworst.
WebothwantaBritainwhereourpolitical
systemislookedatwithadmiration,not
anger.Wehaveasharedambitiontocleanup
Westminsterandadeterminationtooversee
aradicalredistributionofpowerawayfrom
WestminsterandWhitehalltocouncils,
communitiesandhomesacrossthenation.
Whereverpossible,wewantpeopletocallthe
shotsoverthedecisionsthataffecttheirlives.
Andwearebothcommittedtoturningold
thinkingonitsheadanddevelopingnew
approachestogovernment.Foryears,politicians
couldarguethatbecausetheyheldallthe
information,theyneededmorepower.Buttoday,
technologicalinnovationhas–withastonishing
speed–developedtheopportunitytospread
informationanddecentralisepowerinaway
wehaveneverseenbefore.Sowewillextend
transparencytoeveryareaofpubliclife.Similarly,
therehasbeentheassumptionthatcentral
governmentcanonlychangepeople’sbehaviour
throughrulesandregulations.Ourgovernment
willbeamuchsmarterone,shunningthe
bureaucraticleversofthepastandfinding
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TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
intelligentwaystoencourage,supportandenable
peopletomakebetterchoicesforthemselves.
Ineverypartofthisagreement,wehavegone
furtherthansimplyadoptingthosepolicies
wherewepreviouslyoverlapped.Wehave
foundthatacombinationofourparties’best
ideasandattitudeshasproducedaprogramme
forgovernmentthatismoreradicaland
comprehensivethanourindividualmanifestos.
Forexample,whenyoutakeConservativeplans
tostrengthenfamiliesandencouragesocial
responsibility,andaddtothemtheLiberal
Democratpassionforprotectingourcivil
libertiesandstoppingtherelentlessincursion
ofthestateintothelivesofindividuals,you
createaBigSocietymatchedbybigcitizens.
Thisoffersthepotentialtocompletelyrecast
therelationshipbetweenpeopleandthestate:
citizensempowered;individualopportunity
extended;communitiescomingtogethertomake
livesbetter.Webelievethatthecombinationof
ourideaswillhelpustocreateamuchstronger
society:onewherethosewhocan,do;andthose
whocannot,wealwayshelp.
Andinthecrucialareaofpublicservicereform,
wehavefoundthatLiberalDemocratand
Conservativeideasarestrongercombined.For
example,intheNHS,takeConservativethinking
onmarkets,choiceandcompetitionandadd
toittheLiberalDemocratbeliefinadvancing
democracyatamuchmorelocallevel,andyou
haveaunitedvisionfortheNHSthatistruly
radical:GPswithauthorityovercommissioning;
patientswithmuchmorecontrol;electionsfor
yourlocalNHShealthboard.Together,ourideas
willbringanemphaticendtothebureaucracy,
top-downcontrolandcentralisationthathasso
diminishedourNHS.
Threeweeksagowecouldneverhavepredicted
thepublicationofthisdocument.Afterthe
election,ofcourse,therewastheoptionof
minoritygovernment–butwewereuninspired
byit.Instead,therewastheoptionofacoalition
inthenationalinterest–andweseizedit.
Whenwesetoffonthisjourneyweweretwo
partieswithsomepoliciesincommonanda
shareddesiretoworkinthenationalinterest.
Wearriveatthisprogrammeforgovernment
astrong,progressivecoalitioninspiredbythe
valuesoffreedom,fairnessandresponsibility.
Thisprogrammeisforfiveyearsofpartnership
governmentdrivenbythosevalues.Webelieve
thatitcandeliverradical,reforminggovernment,
astrongersociety,asmallerstate,andpowerand
responsibilityinthehandsofeverycitizen.Great
changeandrealprogresslieahead.
DavidCameron
PrimeMinister
NickClegg
DeputyPrimeMinister
1. BANKING
Inrecentyears,wehaveseenamassivefinancial
meltdownduetoover-lending,over-borrowing
andpoorregulation.TheGovernmentbelieves
thatthecurrentsystemoffinancialregulationis
fundamentallyflawedandneedstobereplaced
withaframeworkthatpromotesresponsible
andsustainablebanking,whereregulatorshave
greaterpowerstocurbunsustainablelending
practicesandwetakeactiontopromotemore
competitioninthebankingsector.Inaddition,we
recognisethatmuchmoreneedstobedoneto
protecttaxpayersfromfinancialmalpracticeand
tohelpthepublicmanagetheirowndebts.
• Wewillreformthebankingsystemtoavoid
arepeatofthefinancialcrisis,topromotea
competitiveeconomy,tosustaintherecovery
andtoprotectandsustainjobs.
• Wewillintroduceabankinglevyandseeka
detailedagreementonimplementation.
• Wewillbringforwarddetailedproposalsfor
robustactiontotackleunacceptablebonuses
inthefinancialservicessector;indeveloping
theseproposals,wewillensuretheyare
effectiveinreducingrisk.
• Wewantthebankingsystemtoserve
business,nottheotherwayround.Wewill
bringforwarddetailedproposalstofoster
diversityinfinancialservices,promote
mutualsandcreateamorecompetitive
bankingindustry.
• Wewilldevelopeffectiveproposalstoensure
theflowofcredittoviableSMEs.Thiswill
includeconsiderationofbothamajorloan
guaranteeschemeandtheuseofnetlending
targetsforthenationalisedbanks.
• Wewilltakestepstoreducesystemicrisk
inthebankingsystemandwillestablishan
independentcommissiontoinvestigate
thecomplexissueofseparatingretailand
investmentbankinginasustainableway;while
recognisingthatthiswilltaketimetogetright,
thecommissionwillbegivenaninitialtime
frameofoneyeartoreport.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillreformtheregulatorysystemtoavoid
arepeatofthefinancialcrisis.Wewillbring
forwardproposalstogivetheBankofEngland
controlofmacro-prudentialregulationand
oversightofmicro-prudentialregulation.
• Weruleoutjoiningorpreparingtojointhe
EuropeanSingleCurrencyforthedurationof
thisagreement.
• WewillworkwiththeBankofEnglandto
investigatehowtheprocessofincluding
housingcostsintheCPImeasureofinflation
canbeaccelerated.
• WewillcreateBritain’sfirstfreenational
financialadviceservice,whichwillbefunded
infullfromanewsocialresponsibilitylevyon
thefinancialservicessector.
• Wetakewhitecollarcrimeasseriouslyas
othercrime,sowewillcreateasingleagency
totakeontheworkoftacklingserious
economiccrimethatiscurrentlydoneby,
amongothers,theSeriousFraudOffice,
FinancialServicesAuthorityandOfficeofFair
Trading.
2. BUSINESS
TheGovernmentbelievesthatbusinessisthe
driverofeconomicgrowthandinnovation,and
thatweneedtotakeurgentactiontoboost
enterprise,supportgreengrowthandbuilda
newandmoreresponsibleeconomicmodel.
Wewanttocreateafairerandmorebalanced
economy,wherewearenotsodependentona
narrowrangeofeconomicsectors,andwhere
newbusinessesandeconomicopportunities
aremoreevenlysharedbetweenregionsand
industries.
• Wewillcutredtapebyintroducinga‘one-in,
one-out’rulewherebynonewregulationis
broughtinwithoutotherregulationbeingcut
byagreateramount.
• Wewillendthecultureof‘tick-box’
regulation,andinsteadtargetinspectionson
high-riskorganisationsthroughco-regulation
andimprovingprofessionalstandards.
9
10 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillimpose‘sunsetclauses’onregulations • Wewillendthebanonsocialtenantsstarting
andregulatorstoensurethattheneedfor
eachregulationisregularlyreviewed.
• WewillreviewIR35,aspartofawholesale
reviewofallsmallbusinesstaxation,and
seektoreplaceitwithsimplermeasuresthat
preventtaxavoidancebutdonotplaceundue
administrativeburdensoruncertaintyon
theself-employed,orrestrictlabourmarket
flexibility.
• Wewillfindapracticalwaytomakesmall
businessratereliefautomatic.
• Wewillreformthecorporatetaxsystemby
simplifyingreliefsandallowances,andtackling
avoidance,inordertoreduceheadlinerates.
Ouraimistocreatethemostcompetitive
corporatetaxregimeintheG20,while
protectingmanufacturingindustries.
• Wewillseektoensureaninjectionofprivate
capitalintoRoyalMail,includingopportunities
foremployeeownership.WewillretainPost
OfficeLtdinpublicownership.
• Wewillseektoensurealevelplayingfield
betweensmallandlargeretailersbyenabling
councilstotakecompetitionissuesinto
accountwhendrawinguptheirlocalplans
toshapethedirectionandtypeofnewretail
development.
• Wewillgivethepublictheopportunityto
challengetheworstregulations.
• Wewillreviewemploymentandworkplace
laws,foremployersandemployees,toensure
theymaximiseflexibilityforbothparties
whileprotectingfairnessandproviding
thecompetitiveenvironmentrequiredfor
enterprisetothrive.
• Wewillmakeiteasierforpeopletosetup
newenterprisesbycuttingthetimeittakes
tostartanewbusiness.Ourambitionisto
maketheUKoneofthefastestcountries
intheworldtostartupanewbusiness.We
willreducethenumberofformsneededto
registeranewbusiness,andmovetowardsa
‘one-click’registrationmodel.
businessesintheirownhomes.
• Wewillpromotesmallbusinessprocurement,
inparticularbyintroducinganaspiration
that25%ofgovernmentcontractsshould
beawardedtosmallandmedium-sized
businessesandbypublishinggovernment
tendersinfullonlineandfreeofcharge.
• Wewillconsidertheimplementationofthe
DysonReviewtomaketheUKtheleading
hi-techexporterinEurope,andrefocusthe
researchanddevelopmenttaxcrediton
hi-techcompanies,smallfirmsandstart-ups.
• Wewillreviewtherangeoffactorsthatcan
beconsideredbyregulatorswhentakeovers
areproposed.
• WewillreinstateanOperatingandFinancial
Reviewtoensurethatdirectors’socialand
environmentaldutieshavetobecoveredin
companyreporting,andinvestigatefurther
waysofimprovingcorporateaccountability
andtransparency.
• WewillensurethatPostOfficesareallowed
toofferawiderangeofservicesinorderto
sustainthenetwork,andwewilllookatthe
casefordevelopingnewsourcesofrevenue,
suchasthecreationofaPostOfficeBank.
• Wewillendtheso-called‘gold-plating’of
EUrules,sothatBritishbusinessesarenot
disadvantagedrelativetotheirEuropean
competitors.
• WewillsupportthecreationofLocal
EnterprisePartnerships–jointlocal
authority-businessbodiesbroughtforwardby
localauthoritiesthemselvestopromotelocal
economicdevelopment–toreplaceRegional
DevelopmentAgencies(RDAs).Thesemay
taketheformoftheexistingRDAsinareas
wheretheyarepopular.
• Wewilltakestepstoimprovethe
competitivenessoftheUKtourismindustry,
recognisingtheimportantpartitplaysinour
nationaleconomy.
3. CIVILLIBERTIES
Wewillbestrongindefenceoffreedom.The
GovernmentbelievesthattheBritishstatehas
becometooauthoritarian,andthatoverthepast
decadeithasabusedanderodedfundamental
humanfreedomsandhistoriccivilliberties.We
needtorestoretherightsofindividualsinthe
faceofencroachingstatepower,inkeepingwith
Britain’straditionoffreedomandfairness.
• Wewillimplementafullprogrammeof
measurestoreversethesubstantialerosionof
civillibertiesandrollbackstateintrusion.
• WewillintroduceaFreedomBill.
• WewillscraptheIDcardscheme,
theNationalIdentityregisterandthe
ContactPointdatabase,andhaltthenext
generationofbiometricpassports.
• Wewilloutlawthefinger-printingofchildren
atschoolwithoutparentalpermission.
• WewillextendthescopeoftheFreedom
ofInformationActtoprovidegreater
transparency.
• WewilladopttheprotectionsoftheScottish
modelfortheDNAdatabase.
• Wewillprotecthistoricfreedomsthrough
thedefenceoftrialbyjury.
• Wewillrestorerightstonon-violentprotest.
• Wewillreviewlibellawstoprotectfreedom
ofspeech.
• Wewillintroducesafeguardsagainstthe
misuseofanti-terrorismlegislation.
• WewillfurtherregulateCCTV.
• Wewillendthestorageofinternetandemail
recordswithoutgoodreason.
• Wewillintroduceanewmechanismto
preventtheproliferationofunnecessarynew
criminaloffences.
• WewillestablishaCommissiontoinvestigate
thecreationofaBritishBillofRightsthat
incorporatesandbuildsonallourobligations
undertheEuropeanConventiononHuman
Rights,ensuresthattheserightscontinue
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 11
tobeenshrinedinBritishlaw,andprotects
andextendsBritishliberties.Wewillseekto
promoteabetterunderstandingofthetrue
scopeoftheseobligationsandliberties.
4. COMMUNITIESANDLOCAL
GOVERNMENT
TheGovernmentbelievesthatitistimefora
fundamentalshiftofpowerfromWestminster
topeople.Wewillpromotedecentralisationand
democraticengagement,andwewillendtheera
oftop-downgovernmentbygivingnewpowers
tolocalcouncils,communities,neighbourhoods
andindividuals.
• Wewillpromotetheradicaldevolutionof
powerandgreaterfinancialautonomytolocal
governmentandcommunitygroups.Thiswill
includeareviewoflocalgovernmentfinance.
• WewillrapidlyabolishRegionalSpatial
Strategiesandreturndecision-makingpowers
onhousingandplanningtolocalcouncils,
includinggivingcouncilsnewpowerstostop
‘gardengrabbing’.
• Inthelongerterm,wewillradicallyreform
theplanningsystemtogiveneighbourhoods
farmoreabilitytodeterminetheshapeofthe
placesinwhichtheirinhabitantslive,based
ontheprinciplessetoutintheConservative
PartypublicationOpen Source Planning.
• WewillabolishtheunelectedInfrastructure
PlanningCommissionandreplaceitwith
anefficientanddemocraticallyaccountable
systemthatprovidesafast-trackprocessfor
majorinfrastructureprojects.
• WewillpublishandpresenttoParliament
asimpleandconsolidatednationalplanning
frameworkcoveringallformsofdevelopment
andsettingoutnationaleconomic,
environmentalandsocialpriorities.
• WewillmaintaintheGreenBelt,Sitesof
SpecialScientificInterest(SSSIs)andother
environmentalprotections,andcreateanew
designation–similartoSSSIs–toprotect
greenareasofparticularimportancetolocal
communities.
12 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• WewillabolishtheGovernmentOfficefor
Londonandconsiderthecaseforabolishing
theremainingGovernmentOffices.
• Wewillprovidemoreprotectionagainst
aggressivebailiffsandunreasonablecharging
orders,ensurethatcourtshavethepowerto
insistthatrepossessionisalwaysalastresort,
andbanordersforsaleonunsecureddebtsof
lessthan£25,000.
• Wewillimposetougherrulestostopunfair
competitionbylocalauthoritynewspapers.
• Wewillintroducenewpowerstohelp
communitiessavelocalfacilitiesand
servicesthreatenedwithclosure,andgive
communitiestherighttobidtotakeoverlocal
state-runservices.
• WewillimplementtheSustainable
• Wewillexplorearangeofmeasurestobring
emptyhomesintouse.
CommunitiesAct,sothatcitizensknowhow
taxpayers’moneyisspentintheirareaand
haveagreatersayoverhowitisspent.
• Wewillpromotesharedownershipschemes
• Wewillcutlocalgovernmentinspectionand
andhelpsocialtenantsandotherstoownor
part-owntheirhome.
• Wewillpromote‘HomeontheFarm’
schemesthatencouragefarmerstoconvert
existingbuildingsintoaffordablehousing.
• Wewillcreatenewtruststhatwillmakeit
simplerforcommunitiestoprovidehomesfor
localpeople.
• Wewillphaseoutthering-fencingofgrants
tolocalgovernmentandreviewtheunfair
HousingRevenueAccount.
• WewillfreezeCouncilTaxinEnglandfor
atleastoneyear,andseektofreezeitfor
afurtheryear,inpartnershipwithlocal
authorities.
• Wewillcreatedirectlyelectedmayors
inthe12largestEnglishcities,subjectto
confirmatoryreferendumsandfullscrutiny
by electedcouncillors.
• Wewillgivecouncilsageneralpowerof
competence.
• Wewillbantheuseofpowersinthe
RegulationofInvestigatoryPowersAct(RIPA)
bycouncils,unlesstheyaresignedoffbya
magistrateandrequiredforstoppingserious
crime.
• Wewillallowcouncilstoreturntothe
committeesystem,shouldtheywishto.
• WewillabolishtheStandardsBoardregime.
• Wewillstoptherestructuringofcouncilsin
Norfolk,SuffolkandDevon,andstopplansto
forcetheregionalisationofthefireservice.
abolishtheComprehensiveAreaAssessment.
• Wewillrequirecontinuousimprovementsto
theenergyefficiencyofnewhousing.
• Wewillprovideincentivesforlocalauthorities
todeliversustainabledevelopment,including
fornewhomesandbusinesses.
• Wewillreviewtheeffectivenessoftheraising
ofthestampdutythresholdforfirst-time
buyers.
• Wewillgivecouncillorsthepowertovote
onlargesalarypackagesforunelectedcouncil
officials.
5. CONSUMERPROTECTION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatactionisneeded
toprotectconsumers,particularlythemost
vulnerable,andtopromotegreatercompetition
acrosstheeconomy.Weneedtopromotemore
responsiblecorporateandconsumerbehaviour
throughgreatertransparencyandbyharnessing
theinsightsfrombehaviouraleconomicsand
socialpsychology.
• Wewillgiveregulatorsnewpowerstodefine
andbanexcessiveinterestratesoncreditand
storecards;andwewillintroduceaseven-day
cooling-offperiodforstorecards.
• Wewillobligecreditcardcompaniesto
providebetterinformationtotheircustomers
inauniformelectronicformatthatwillallow
consumerstofindoutwhethertheyare
receivingthebestdeal.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 13
• Wewillintroducestrongerconsumer
protections,includingmeasurestoendunfair
bankandfinancialtransactioncharges.
• Wewilltakeforwardmeasurestoenhance
customerserviceintheprivateandpublic
sectors.
• Wewillintroduce,asafirststep,an
OmbudsmanintheOfficeofFairTradingwho
canproactivelyenforcetheGrocerySupply
CodeofPracticeandcurbabusesofpower,
whichundermineourfarmersandactagainst
thelong-terminterestofconsumers.
• Wewillintroducehonestyinfoodlabellingso
thatconsumerscanbeconfidentaboutwhere
theirfoodcomesfromanditsenvironmental
impact.
• Wewillincreasehouseholds’controlover
theirenergycostsbyensuringthatenergybills
provideinformationonhowtomovetothe
cheapesttariffofferedbytheirsupplier,and
howeachhousehold’senergyusagecompares
tosimilarhouseholds.
• WewillgivePostOfficeCardaccountholders
thechancetobenefitfromdirectdebit
discountsandensurethatsocialtariffsoffer
accesstothebestpricesavailable.
• Wewillseektoextendprotectionand
supportto‘off-grid’energyconsumers.
6. CRIMEANDPOLICING
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedradical
actiontoreformourcriminaljusticesystem.We
needpoliceforcesthathavegreaterfreedom
fromMinisterialcontrolandarebetterableto
dealwiththecrimeandanti-socialbehaviourthat
blightspeople’slives,butwhicharemuchmore
accountabletothepublictheyserve.
• Wewillreducetime-wastingbureaucracythat
hamperspoliceoperations,andintroduce
bettertechnologytomakepolicingmore
effectivewhilesavingtaxpayers’money.
• Wewillamendthehealthandsafetylawsthat
standinthewayofcommonsensepolicing.
• Wewillseektospreadinformationonwhich
policingtechniquesandsentencesaremost
effectiveatcuttingcrimeacrosstheCriminal
JusticeSystem.
• Wewillhaveafullreviewofthetermsand
conditionsforpoliceofficeremployment.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestomakethe
policemoreaccountablethroughoversight
byadirectlyelectedindividual,whowillbe
subjecttostrictchecksandbalancesbylocally
electedrepresentatives.
• Wewillobligethepolicetopublishdetailed
localcrimedatastatisticseverymonth,sothe
publiccangetproperinformationaboutcrime
intheirneighbourhoodsandholdthepoliceto
accountfortheirperformance.
• Wewillrequirepoliceforcestoholdregular
‘beatmeetings’sothatresidentscanhold
themtoaccount.
• Wewillmakehospitalssharenon-confidential
informationwiththepolicesotheyknow
wheregunandknifecrimeishappeningand
cantargetstop-and-searchingunandknife
crimehotspots.
• Wewillgivepeoplegreaterlegalprotection
topreventcrimeandapprehendcriminals.
• Wewillensurethatpeoplehavethe
protectionthattheyneedwhentheydefend
themselvesagainstintruders.
• Wewillbanthesaleofalcoholbelowcost
price.
• Wewillreviewalcoholtaxationandpricing
toensureittacklesbingedrinkingwithout
unfairlypenalisingresponsibledrinkers,pubs
andimportantlocalindustries.
• WewilloverhaultheLicensingActtogive
localauthoritiesandthepolicemuchstronger
powerstoremovelicencesfrom,orrefuse
tograntlicencesto,anypremisesthatare
causingproblems.
• Wewillallowcouncilsandthepolicetoshut
downpermanentlyanyshoporbarfoundto
bepersistentlysellingalcoholtochildren.
14 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewilldoublethemaximumfinefor
under-agealcoholsalesto£20,000.
• Wewillpermitlocalcouncilstochargemore
forlate-nightlicencestopayforadditional
policing.
• WewillworkwiththeMayorofLondonto
ensureasafeandsuccessfulOlympicand
ParalympicGamesinLondonin2012,and
urgentlyformplanstodeliveragenuineand
lastinglegacy.
• Wewillpromotebetterrecordingofhate
• Wewillexaminethecaseformovingtoa
• Wewillintroduceasystemoftemporary
• WewillstopwastefulspendingbyNational
crimesagainstdisabled,homosexualand
transgenderpeople,whicharefrequentlynot
centrallyrecorded.
bansonnew‘legalhighs’whilehealthissues
areconsideredbyindependentexperts.We
willnotpermanentlybanasubstancewithout
receivingfulladvicefromtheAdvisoryCouncil
ontheMisuseofDrugs.
• Wewillreviewtheoperationofthe
ExtraditionAct–andtheUS/UKextradition
treaty–tomakesureitiseven-handed.
7. CULTURE,OLYMPICS,MEDIA
ANDSPORT
TheGovernmentbelievesthatavibrantcultural,
mediaandsportingsectoriscrucialforour
well-beingandqualityoflife.Weneedto
promoteexcellenceinthesefields,with
governmentfundingusedwhereappropriate
toencouragephilanthropicandcorporate
investment.
• Wewillmaintaintheindependenceofthe
BBC,andgivetheNationalAuditOffice
fullaccesstotheBBC’saccountstoensure
transparency.
• Wewillenablepartnershipsbetweenlocal
newspapers,radioandtelevisionstationsto
promoteastronganddiverselocalmedia
industry.
• Wewillmaintainfreeentrytonational
museumsandgalleries,andgivenational
museumsgreaterfreedoms.
• WewillworkwiththeScottishGovernment
todeliverasuccessfulCommonwealthGames
inGlasgowin2014,andensurethatthe2013
RugbyLeagueandthe2015RugbyUnion
WorldCupsaresuccessful.Wewillstrongly
supporttheEngland2018WorldCupbid.
‘grossprofitstax’systemfortheNational
Lottery,andreformtheNationalLotteryso
thatmoremoneygoesintosport,theartsand
heritage.
Lotterydistributorsbybanninglobbying
activitiesandrestrictingadministrationcosts
to5%oftotalincome.
• Wewillusecashindormantbettingaccounts
toimprovelocalsportsfacilitiesandsupport
sportsclubs.
• Wewillencouragethereformoffootball
governancerulestosupporttheco-operative
ownershipoffootballclubsbysupporters.
• Wewillsupportthecreationofanannual
Olympic-styleschoolssporteventto
encouragecompetitivesportinschools,and
wewillseektoprotectschoolplayingfields.
• Wewillcutredtapetoencouragethe
performanceofmorelivemusic.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoensurethe
rapidroll-outofsuperfastbroadbandacross
thecountry.WewillensurethatBTandother
infrastructureprovidersallowtheuseoftheir
assetstodeliversuchbroadband,andwe
willseektointroducesuperfastbroadband
inremoteareasatthesametimeasinmore
populatedareas.Ifnecessary,wewillconsider
usingthepartoftheTVlicencefeethatis
supportingthedigitalswitchovertofund
broadbandinareasthatthemarketalonewill
notreach.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 15
8. DEFENCE
• Wewilldoubletheoperationalallowance
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtotake
actiontosafeguardournationalsecurityathome
andabroad.Wealsorecognisethatweneedto
domuchmoretoensurethatourArmedForces
havethesupporttheyneed,andthatveterans
andtheirfamiliesaretreatedwiththedignity
thattheydeserve.
• Wewillensurethatinjuredpersonnelare
• WewillmaintainBritain’snucleardeterrent,
andhaveagreedthattherenewalofTrident
shouldbescrutinisedtoensurevaluefor
money.LiberalDemocratswillcontinue
tomakethecaseforalternatives.Wewill
immediatelyplayastrongroleintheNuclear
Non-ProliferationTreatyReviewConference,
andpressforcontinuedprogresson
multilateraldisarmament.
• WewillaimtoreduceMinistryofDefence
runningcostsbyatleast25%.
• WewillworktorebuildtheMilitaryCovenant
by:
– ensuringthatServicepersonnel’srestand
recuperationleavecanbemaximised;
– changingtherulessothatServicepersonnel
onlyhavetoregisteronceontheService
register;
– exploringthepotentialforincludingService
childrenaspartofourproposalsforapupil
premium;
– providinguniversityandfurthereducation
scholarshipsforthechildrenofServicemen
andwomenwhohavebeenkilledonactive
dutysince1990;
– providingsupportforex-Servicepersonnel
tostudyatuniversity,
forArmedForcespersonnelservingin
Afghanistan,andincludeArmedForcespayin
ourplansforafairpayreview.
treatedindedicatedmilitarywards.
• Wewilllookatwhetherthereisscopeto
refurbishArmedForces’accommodation
fromefficiencieswithintheMinistryof
Defence.
• Wewillsupportdefencejobsthroughexports
thatareusedforlegitimatepurposes,not
internalrepression,andwillworkforafull
internationalbanonclustermunitions.
9. DEFICITREDUCTION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatitisthemost
vulnerablewhoaremostatriskfromthe
debtcrisis,andthatitisdeeplyunfairthatthe
Governmentcouldhavetospendmoreondebt
interestpaymentsthanonschools.Soweneed
immediateactiontotacklethedeficitinafairand
responsibleway,ensurethattaxpayers’money
isspentresponsibly,andgetthepublicfinances
backontrack.
• Werecognisethatdeficitreduction,and
continuingtoensureeconomicrecovery,is
themosturgentissuefacingBritain.
• Wewillsignificantlyacceleratethereduction
ofthestructuraldeficitoverthecourseofa
Parliament,withthemainburdenofdeficit
reductionbornebyreducedspendingrather
thanincreasedtaxes.
• Wewillintroducearrangementsthatwill
protectthoseonlowincomesfromtheeffect
ofpublicsectorpayconstraintandother
spendingconstraints.
– creatinganewprogramme,‘Troopsfor
Teachers’,torecruitex-Servicepersonnel
intotheteachingprofession;
• Wewillprotectjobsbystoppingthe
– providingextrasupportforveteranmental
healthneeds;and
• Wewillsetoutaplanfordeficitreductionin
– reviewingtherulesgoverningtheawarding
ofmedals.
proposedjobstax.
anemergencybudget.Wehavecreatedan
independentOfficeforBudgetResponsibility
tomakenewforecastsofgrowthand
borrowingforthisemergencybudget.
16 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillmakemodestcutsof£6billionto
non-front-lineserviceswithinthefinancial
year2010/11,subjecttoadvicefromthe
TreasuryandtheBankofEnglandontheir
feasibilityandadvisability.Aproportionof
thesesavingscanbeusedtosupportjobs.
• WewillholdafullSpendingReviewreporting
thisautumn,followingafullyconsultative
processinvolvingalltiersofgovernmentand
theprivatesector.
• Wewillestablishafullsystemoffeed-intariffs
inelectricity–aswellasthemaintenanceof
bandedRenewablesObligationCertificates.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestopromotea
hugeincreaseinenergyfromwastethrough
anaerobicdigestion.
• Wewillcreateagreeninvestmentbank.
• Wewillretainenergyperformance
certificateswhilescrappingHIPs.
• WewillreducespendingontheChildTrust
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoencourage
• Wewillcreatestrongfinancialdisciplineatall
• Wewillestablishanemissionsperformance
Fundandtaxcreditsforhigherearners.
levelsofgovernmentandplaceanobligation
onpublicservantstomanagetaxpayers’
moneywisely.
• Wewillreducethenumberandcostof
quangos.
10.ENERGYANDCLIMATE
CHANGE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatclimatechange
isoneofthegravestthreatsweface,andthat
urgentactionathomeandabroadisrequired.
Weneedtouseawiderangeofleverstocut
carbonemissions,decarbonisetheeconomy
andsupportthecreationofnewgreenjobs
andtechnologies.Wewillimplementafull
programmeofmeasurestofulfilourjoint
ambitionsforalowcarbonandeco-friendly
economy.
• WewillpushfortheEUtodemonstrate
leadershipintacklinginternationalclimate
change,includingbysupportinganincreasein
theEUemissionreductiontargetto30%by
2020.
marineenergy.
standardthatwillpreventcoal-firedpower
stationsbeingbuiltunlesstheyareequipped
withsufficientcarboncaptureandstorageto
meettheemissionsperformancestandard.
• WewillcancelthethirdrunwayatHeathrow.
• Wewillrefusepermissionforadditional
runwaysatGatwickandStansted.
• WewillreplaceAirPassengerDutywitha
per-flightduty.
• Wewillintroduceafloorpriceforcarbon,
andmakeeffortstopersuadetheEUtomove
towardsfullauctioningofETSpermits.
• Throughour‘GreenDeal’,wewillencourage
homeenergyefficiencyimprovementspaid
forbysavingsfromenergybills.Wewillalso
takemeasurestoimproveenergyefficiencyin
businessesandpublicsectorbuildings.Wewill
reducecentralgovernmentcarbonemissions
by10%within12months.
• Wewillreformenergymarketstodeliver
securityofsupplyandinvestmentinlow
carbonenergy,andensurefaircompetition
includingareviewoftheroleofOfgem.
• Wewillseektoincreasethetargetforenergy • WewillinstructOfgemtoestablishasecurity
fromrenewablesources,subjecttotheadvice
oftheClimateChangeCommittee.
guaranteeofenergysupplies.
• Wewillcontinuepublicsectorinvestmentin
• WewillgiveanAnnualEnergyStatementto
• Wewillestablishasmartgridandrollout
• Wewilldeliveranoffshoreelectricitygridin
carboncaptureandstorage(CCS)technology
forfourcoal-firedpowerstations.
smartmeters.
Parliamenttosetstrategicenergypolicyand
guideinvestment.
ordertosupportthedevelopmentofanew
generationofoffshorewindpower.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 17
• Wewillencouragecommunity-owned
renewableenergyschemeswherelocalpeople
benefitfromthepowerproduced.Wewill
alsoallowcommunitiesthathostrenewable
energyprojectstokeeptheadditional
businessratestheygenerate.
• Aspartofthecreationofagreeninvestment
bank,wewillcreategreenfinancialproducts
toprovideindividualswithopportunitiesto
investintheinfrastructureneededtosupport
thenewgreeneconomy.
• Wewillworktowardsanambitiousglobal
climatedealthatwilllimitemissionsand
explorethecreationofnewinternational
sourcesoffundingforthepurposeofclimate
changeadaptationandmitigation.
• LiberalDemocratshavelongopposedany
newnuclearconstruction.Conservatives,
bycontrast,arecommittedtoallowing
thereplacementofexistingnuclearpower
stationsprovidedthattheyaresubjecttothe
normalplanningprocessformajorprojects
(underanewNationalPlanningStatement),
andalsoprovidedthattheyreceivenopublic
subsidy.
• Wewillimplementaprocessallowing
theLiberalDemocratstomaintaintheir
oppositiontonuclearpowerwhilepermitting
theGovernmenttobringforwardthe
NationalPlanningStatementforratificationby
Parliamentsothatnewnuclearconstruction
becomespossible.Thisprocesswillinvolve:
– theGovernmentcompletingthedraftingof
anationalplanningstatementandputtingit
beforeParliament;
– specificagreementthataLiberalDemocrat
spokespersonwillspeakagainstthe
PlanningStatement,butthatLiberal
DemocratMPswillabstain;and
– claritythatthiswillnotberegardedasan
issueofconfidence.
11.ENVIRONMENT,FOODAND
RURALAFFAIRS
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedto
protecttheenvironmentforfuturegenerations,
makeoureconomymoreenvironmentally
sustainable,andimproveourqualityoflifeand
well-being.Wealsobelievethatmuchmore
needstobedonetosupportthefarming
industry,protectbiodiversityandencourage
sustainablefoodproduction.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestomakethe
importorpossessionofillegaltimbera
criminaloffence.
• Wewillintroducemeasurestoprotect
wildlifeandpromotegreenspacesandwildlife
corridorsinordertohaltthelossofhabitats
andrestorebiodiversity.
• Wewilllaunchanationaltreeplanting
campaign.
• Wewillreviewthegovernancearrangements
ofNationalParksinordertoincreaselocal
accountability.
• Wewillworktowardsfullcompliancewith
EuropeanAirQualitystandards.
• WewilltakeforwardthefindingsofthePitt
Reviewtoimproveourflooddefences,and
preventunnecessarybuildinginareasofhigh
floodrisk.
• WewillexaminetheconclusionsoftheCave
andWalkerReviews,andreformthewater
industrytoensuremoreefficientuseofwater
andtheprotectionofpoorerhouseholds.
• Wewillworktowardsa‘zerowaste’
economy,encouragecouncilstopaypeopleto
recycle,andworktoreducelittering.
• Wewillreducetheregulatoryburdenon
farmersbymovingtoarisk-basedsystemof
regulation,andwilldevelopasystemofextra
supportforhillfarmers.
18 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillinvestigatewaystosharewith
livestockkeeperstheresponsibilityfor
preparingforanddealingwithoutbreaksof
disease.
• WewilltakeforwardtheMarineandCoastal
AccessActandensurethatitsconservation
measuresareimplementedeffectively.
• Aspartofapackageofmeasures,wewill
introduceacarefullymanagedandscience-led
policyofbadgercontrolinareaswithhighand
persistentlevelsofbovinetuberculosis.
• Wewillpromotehighstandardsoffarm
animalwelfare.Wewillendthetestingof
householdproductsonanimalsandwork
toreducetheuseofanimalsinscientific
research.Wewillpromoteresponsiblepet
ownershipbyintroducingeffectivecodesof
practiceundertheAnimalWelfareAct,and
willensurethatenforcementagenciestarget
irresponsibleownersofdangerousdogs.
• Wewillensurethatfoodprocuredby
governmentdepartments,andeventuallythe
wholepublicsector,meetsBritishstandards
ofproductionwhereverthiscanbeachieved
withoutincreasingoverallcost.
• Wewillinvestigatemeasurestohelpwithfuel
costsinremoteruralareas,startingwithpilot
schemes.
• Wewillcreateapresumptioninfavourof
sustainabledevelopmentintheplanning
system.
• Weopposetheresumptionofcommercial
whaling,willpressforabanonivorysales,and
willtacklethesmugglingandillegaltradeon
wildlifethroughournewBorderPoliceForce.
• Wewillbringforwardamotiononafreevote
enablingtheHouseofCommonstoexpress
itsviewontherepealoftheHuntingAct.
12.EQUALITIES
TheGovernmentbelievesthatthereare
manybarrierstosocialmobilityandequal
opportunitiesinBritaintoday,withtoomany
childrenheldbackbecauseoftheirsocial
background,andtoomanypeopleofallagesheld
backbecauseoftheirgender,race,religionor
sexuality.Weneedconcertedgovernmentaction
toteardownthesebarriersandhelptobuilda
fairersociety.
• Wewillpromoteequalpayandtakearange
ofmeasurestoenddiscriminationinthe
workplace.
• Wewillextendtherighttorequestflexible
workingtoallemployees,consultingwith
businessonhowbesttodoso.
• Wewillundertakeafairpayreviewinthe
publicsectortoimplementourproposed
‘20times’paymultiple.
• Wewilllooktopromotegenderequalityon
theboardsoflistedcompanies.
• Wewillpromoteimprovedcommunity
relationsandopportunitiesforBlack,Asian
andMinorityEthnic(BAME)communities,
includingbyprovidinginternshipsforunderrepresentedminoritiesineveryWhitehall
departmentandfundingatargetednational
enterprisementoringschemeforBAME
peoplewhowanttostartabusiness.
• Wewillstopthedeportationofasylum
seekerswhohavehadtoleaveparticular
countriesbecausetheirsexualorientationor
genderidentificationputsthematprovenrisk
ofimprisonment,tortureorexecution.
• Wewilluseourrelationshipswithother
countriestopushforunequivocalsupportfor
gayrightsandforUKcivilpartnershipstobe
recognisedinternationally.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 19
13.EUROPE
• Wewillapproachforthcominglegislationin
TheGovernmentbelievesthatBritainshouldplay
aleadingroleinanenlargedEuropeanUnion,but
thatnofurtherpowersshouldbetransferredto
Brusselswithoutareferendum.Thisapproach
strikestherightbalancebetweenconstructive
engagementwiththeEUtodealwiththeissues
thataffectusall,andprotectingournational
sovereignty.
• Wesupportthefurtherenlargementofthe
• WewillensurethattheBritishGovernmentis
apositiveparticipantintheEuropeanUnion,
playingastrongandpositiverolewithour
partners,withthegoalofensuringthatall
thenationsofEuropeareequippedtoface
thechallengesofthe21stcentury:global
competitiveness,globalwarmingandglobal
poverty.
• Wewillensurethatthereisnofurther
transferofsovereigntyorpowersover
thecourseofthenextParliament.Wewill
examinethebalanceoftheEU’sexisting
competencesandwill,inparticular,workto
limittheapplicationoftheWorkingTime
DirectiveintheUnitedKingdom.
• Wewillamendthe1972European
CommunitiesActsothatanyproposed
futuretreatythattransferredareasofpower,
orcompetences,wouldbesubjecttoa
referendumonthattreaty–a‘referendum
lock’.Wewillamendthe1972European
CommunitiesActsothattheuseofany
passerellewouldrequireprimarylegislation.
• WewillexaminethecaseforaUnited
KingdomSovereigntyBilltomakeitclearthat
ultimateauthorityremainswithParliament.
• WewillensurethatBritaindoesnotjoinor
preparetojointheEurointhisParliament.
• WewillstronglydefendtheUK’snational
interestsintheforthcomingEUbudget
negotiationsandagreethattheEUbudget
shouldonlyfocusonthoseareaswherethe
EUcanaddvalue.
• WewillpressfortheEuropeanParliamentto
haveonlyoneseat,inBrussels.
theareaofcriminaljusticeonacase-by-case
basis,withaviewtomaximisingourcountry’s
security,protectingBritain’scivilliberties
andpreservingtheintegrityofourcriminal
justicesystem.Britainwillnotparticipate
intheestablishmentofanyEuropeanPublic
Prosecutor.
EU.
14.FAMILIESANDCHILDREN
TheGovernmentbelievesthatstrongandstable
familiesofallkindsarethebedrockofastrong
andstablesociety.Thatiswhyweneedto
makeoursocietymorefamilyfriendly,andto
takeactiontoprotectchildrenfromexcessive
commercialisationandprematuresexualisation.
• Wewillmaintainthegoalofendingchild
povertyintheUKby2020.
• Wewillreformtheadministrationoftax
creditstoreducefraudandoverpayments.
• Wewillbringforwardplanstoreducethe
couplepenaltyinthetaxcreditsystemaswe
makesavingsfromourwelfarereformplans.
• Wesupporttheprovisionoffreenurserycare
forpre-schoolchildren,andwewantthat
supporttobeprovidedbyadiverserangeof
providers,withagreatergenderbalanceinthe
earlyyearsworkforce.
• WewilltakeSureStartbacktoitsoriginal
purposeofearlyintervention,increaseits
focusontheneediestfamilies,andbetter
involveorganisationswithatrackrecordof
supportingfamilies.Wewillinvestigateways
ofensuringthatprovidersarepaidinpartby
theresultstheyachieve.
• WewillrefocusfundingfromSureStart
peripateticoutreachservices,andfromthe
DepartmentofHealthbudget,topayfor
4,200extraSureStarthealthvisitors.
• Wewillinvestigateanewapproachtohelping
familieswithmultipleproblems.
20 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillpublishseriouscasereviews,with
identifyingdetailsremoved.
• Wewillreviewthecriminalrecordsand
vettingandbarringregimeandscaleitbackto
commonsenselevels.
• Wewillcrackdownonirresponsible
advertisingandmarketing,especiallyto
children.Wewillalsotakestepstotackle
thecommercialisationandsexualisationof
childhood.
• Wewillencouragesharedparentingfromthe
earlieststagesofpregnancy–includingthe
promotionofasystemofflexibleparental
leave.
• Wewillputfundingforrelationshipsupport
onastable,long-termfooting,andmakesure
thatcouplesaregivengreaterencouragement
touseexistingrelationshipsupport.
• Wewillconductacomprehensivereview
offamilylawinordertoincreasetheuse
ofmediationwhencouplesdobreakup,
andtolookathowbesttoprovidegreater
accessrightstonon-residentparentsand
grandparents.
15.FOREIGNAFFAIRS
TheGovernmentbelievesthatBritainmust
alwaysbeanactivememberoftheglobal
community,promotingournationalinterests
whilestandingupforthevaluesoffreedom,
fairnessandresponsibility.Thismeansworking
asaconstructivememberoftheUnitedNations,
NATOandothermultilateralorganisations
includingtheCommonwealth;workingto
promotestabilityandsecurity;andpushingfor
reformofglobalinstitutionstoensurethatthey
reflectthemodernworld.
• Wewilltakeforwardoursharedresolve
tosafeguardtheUK’snationalsecurityand
supportourArmedForcesinAfghanistanand
elsewhere.
• WewillpushforpeaceintheMiddleEast,
withasecureanduniversallyrecognised
Israellivingalongsideasovereignandviable
Palestinianstate.
• Wewillworktoestablishanew‘special
relationship’withIndiaandseekcloser
engagementwithChina,whilestanding
firmonhumanrightsinallourbilateral
relationships.
• Wewillmaintainastrong,closeandfrank
relationshipwiththeUnitedStates.
• WewanttostrengthentheCommonwealth
asafocusforpromotingdemocraticvalues
anddevelopment.
• Wewillworktopromotestabilityinthe
WesternBalkans.
• Wewillsupportconcertedinternational
effortstopreventIranfromobtaininga
nuclearweapon.
• WesupportreformoftheUNSecurity
Council,includingpermanentseatsfor
Japan,India,Germany,BrazilandAfrican
representation.
• Wewillworktointensifyourcultural,
educational,commercialanddiplomaticlinks
withmanynationsbeyondEuropeandNorth
AmericatostrengthentheUK’srelations
withthefastest-growingareasoftheworld
economy.
• Wewillnevercondonetheuseoftorture.
16.GOVERNMENT
TRANSPARENCY
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedtothrow
openthedoorsofpublicbodies,toenablethe
publictoholdpoliticiansandpublicbodiesto
account.Wealsorecognisethatthiswillhelpto
deliverbettervalueformoneyinpublicspending,
andhelpusachieveouraimofcuttingthe
recorddeficit.Settinggovernmentdatafreewill
bringsignificanteconomicbenefitsbyenabling
businessesandnon-profitorganisationstobuild
innovativeapplicationsandwebsites.
• Wewillrequirepublicbodiestopublishonline
thejobtitlesofeverymemberofstaffandthe
salariesandexpensesofseniorofficialspaid
morethanthelowestsalarypermissibleinPay
Band1oftheSeniorCivilServicepayscale,
andorganogramsthatincludeallpositionsin
thosebodies.
• Wewillrequireanyonepaidmorethanthe
PrimeMinisterinthecentrallyfundedpublic
sectortohavetheirsalarysignedoffbythe
Treasury.
• Wewillregulatelobbyingthroughintroducing
astatutoryregisteroflobbyistsandensuring
greatertransparency.
• Wewillalsopursueadetailedagreementon
limitingdonationsandreformingpartyfunding
inordertoremovebigmoneyfrompolitics.
• WewillstrengthenthepowersofSelect
Committeestoscrutinisemajorpublic
appointments.
• Wewillintroducenewprotectionsfor
whistleblowersinthepublicsector.
• Wewilltakestepstoopenupgovernment
procurementandreducecosts;andwewill
publishgovernmentICTcontractsonline.
• Wewillcreatealevelplayingfieldforopen-
sourcesoftwareandwillenablelargeICT
projectstobesplitintosmallercomponents.
• Wewillrequirefull,onlinedisclosureofall
centralgovernmentspendingandcontracts
over£25,000.
• Wewillcreateanew‘righttodata’sothat
government-helddatasetscanberequested
andusedbythepublic,andthenpublishedon
aregularbasis.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 21
17.IMMIGRATION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatimmigration
hasenrichedourcultureandstrengthenedour
economy,butthatitmustbecontrolledsothat
peoplehaveconfidenceinthesystem.Wealso
recognisethattoensurecohesionandprotect
ourpublicservices,weneedtointroduceacap
onimmigrationandreducethenumberofnonEUimmigrants.
• Wewillintroduceanannuallimitonthe
numberofnon-EUeconomicmigrants
admittedintotheUKtoliveandwork.
Wewillconsiderjointlythemechanismfor
implementingthelimit.
• Wewillendthedetentionofchildrenfor
immigrationpurposes.
• WewillcreateadedicatedBorderPolice
Force,aspartofarefocusedSerious
OrganisedCrimeAgency,toenhancenational
security,improveimmigrationcontrolsand
crackdownonthetraffickingofpeople,
weaponsanddrugs.Wewillworkwithpolice
forcestostrengthenarrangementstodeal
withseriouscrimeandothercross-boundary
policingchallenges,andextendcollaboration
betweenforcestodeliverbettervaluefor
money.
• WesupportE-bordersandwillreintroduce
exitchecks.
• Wewillapplytransitionalcontrolsasamatter
ofcourseinthefutureforallnewEUMember
States.
• Wewillrequireallcouncilstopublishmeeting • Wewillintroducenewmeasurestominimise
abuseoftheimmigrationsystem,forexample
minutesandlocalserviceandperformance
data.
viastudentroutes,andwilltacklehuman
traffickingasapriority.
• Wewillrequireallcouncilstopublishitemsof • Wewillexplorenewwaystoimprovethe
spendingabove£500,andtopublishcontracts
andtenderdocumentsinfull.
• Wewillensurethatalldatapublishedby
publicbodiesispublishedinanopenand
standardisedformat,sothatitcanbeused
easilyandwithminimalcostbythirdparties.
currentasylumsystemtospeedupthe
processingofapplications.
22 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
18.INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
• Wewillpushhardin2010tomakegreater
TheGovernmentbelievesthateveninthese
difficulteconomictimes,theUKhasamoral
responsibilitytohelpthepoorestpeopleinthe
world.Wewillhonourouraidcommitments,
butatthesametimewillensuremuchgreater
transparencyandscrutinyofaidspendingto
delivervalueformoneyforBritishtaxpayersand
tomaximisetheimpactofouraidbudget.
• Wewillworktoacceleratetheprocessof
• Wewillhonourourcommitmenttospend
0.7%ofGNIonoverseasaidfrom2013,and
toenshrinethiscommitmentinlaw.
• Wewillencourageothercountriestofulfil
theiraidcommitments.
• Wewillsupportactionstoachievethe
MillenniumDevelopmentGoals.Inparticular,
wewillprioritiseaidspendingonprogrammes
toensurethateveryonehasaccesstoclean
water,sanitation,healthcareandeducation;to
reducematernalandinfantmortality;andto
restrictthespreadofmajordiseaseslikeHIV/
AIDS,TBandmalaria.Wewillrecognisethe
vitalroleofwomenindevelopment,promote
genderequalityandfocusontherightsof
women,childrenanddisabledpeopleto
accessservices.
• Wewillusetheaidbudgettosupportthe
developmentoflocaldemocraticinstitutions,
civilsocietygroups,themediaandenterprise;
andsupporteffortstotacklecorruption.
• Wewillintroducefulltransparencyinaid
andpublishdetailsofallUKaidspending
online. Wewillpushforsimilarlyhighlevelsof
transparencyinternationally.
• WewillcreatenewmechanismstogiveBritish
peopleadirectsayinhowanelementofthe
aidbudgetisspent.
• Wewillkeepaiduntiedfromcommercial
interests,andwillmaintainDfIDasan
independentdepartmentfocusedonpoverty
reduction.
• Wewillsticktotheruleslaiddownbythe
OECDaboutwhatspendingcountsasaid.
progressintacklingmaternalandinfant
mortality. relievingHeavilyIndebtedPoorCountriesof
theirdebt.
• Wewillsupporteffortstoestablishan
InternationalArmsTradeTreatytolimitthe
salesofarmstodangerousregimes.
• Wewillsupportpro-developmenttrade
deals,includingtheproposedPan-AfricanFree
TradeArea.
• Wewillsupportinnovativeandeffective
smallerBritishnon-governmental
organisationsthatarecommittedtotackling
poverty.
• Wewillexplorewaysofhelpingthevery
poorestdevelopingcountriestotakepartin
internationalclimatechangenegotiations.
• WewillensurethatUKTradeandInvestment
andtheExportCreditsGuarantee
DepartmentbecomechampionsforBritish
companiesthatdevelopandexportinnovative
greentechnologiesaroundtheworld,instead
ofsupportinginvestmentindirtyfossil-fuel
energyproduction.
• Wewillprovideamoreintegratedapproach
topost-conflictreconstructionwherethe
Britishmilitaryisinvolved–buildingonthe
StabilisationUnitinWhitehallandcreatinga
newStabilisationandReconstructionForceto
bridgethegapbetweenthemilitaryandthe
reconstructioneffort.
• Wewillreviewwhatactioncanbetaken
against‘vulturefunds’.
• Wewillsupportreformofglobalfinancial
institutionssuchastheWorldBankand
theInternationalMonetaryFundinorder
toincreasetheinvolvementofdeveloping
nations.
19.JOBSANDWELFARE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedto
encourageresponsibilityandfairnessinthe
welfaresystem.Thatmeansprovidinghelpfor
thosewhocannotwork,trainingandtargeted
supportforthoselookingforwork,but
sanctionsforthosewhoturndownreasonable
offersofworkortraining.
• Wewillendallexistingwelfaretowork
programmesandcreateasinglewelfareto
workprogrammetohelpallunemployed
peoplegetbackintowork.
• WewillensurethatJobseeker’sAllowance
claimantsfacingthemostsignificantbarriers
toworkarereferredtothenewwelfare
toworkprogrammeimmediately,notafter
12monthsasiscurrentlythecase.Wewill
ensurethatJobseeker’sAllowanceclaimants
agedunder25arereferredtotheprogramme
afteramaximumofsixmonths.
• Wewillrealigncontractswithwelfareto
workserviceproviderstoreflectmoreclosely
theresultstheyachieveingettingpeopleback
intowork.
• Wewillreformthefundingmechanismused
bygovernmenttofinancewelfaretowork
programmestoreflectthefactthatinitial
investmentdeliverslatersavingsthrough
lowerbenefitexpenditure,includingcreating
anintegratedworkprogrammewithoutcome
fundingbasedupontheDEL/AMEswitch.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 23
• WewilldrawonarangeofServiceAcademies
toofferpre-employmenttrainingandwork
placementsforunemployedpeople.
• WewilldeveloplocalWorkClubs–places
whereunemployedpeoplecangatherto
exchangeskills,findopportunities,make
contactsandprovidemutualsupport.
• Wewillinvestigatehowtosimplifythe
benefit systeminordertoimproveincentives
towork.
20.JUSTICE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatmoreneedsto
bedonetoensurefairnessinthejusticesystem.
Thismeansintroducingmoreeffectivesentencing
policies,aswellasoverhaulingthesystemof
rehabilitationtoreducereoffendingandprovide
greatersupportandprotectionforthevictimsof
crime.
• Wewillintroducea‘rehabilitationrevolution’
thatwillpayindependentproviderstoreduce
reoffending,paidforbythesavingsthisnew
approachwillgeneratewithinthecriminal
justicesystem.
• Wewillconductafullreviewofsentencing
policytoensurethatitiseffectivein
deterringcrime,protectingthepublic,
punishingoffendersandcuttingreoffending.In
particular,wewillensurethatsentencingfor
drugusehelpsoffenderscomeoffdrugs.
• Wewillensurethatreceiptofbenefitsfor
• Wewillexplorealternativeformsofsecure,
• WesupporttheNationalMinimumWage
• WewillimplementthePrisoners’Earnings
• Wewillre-assessallcurrentclaimantsof
• Wewillconsiderhowtouseproceedsfrom
• Wewillsupportwould-beentrepreneurs
• Wewillcarryoutafundamentalreviewof
thoseabletoworkisconditionalontheir
willingnesstowork.
becauseoftheprotectionitgiveslowincomeworkersandtheincentivestoworkit
provides.
IncapacityBenefitfortheirreadinesstowork.
Thoseassessedasfullycapableforworkwill
bemovedontoJobseeker’sAllowance.
throughanewprogramme–Workfor
Yourself–whichwillgivetheunemployed
accesstobusinessmentorsandstart-uploans.
treatment-basedaccommodationformentally
illanddrugsoffenders.
Act1996toallowdeductionsfromthe
earningsofprisonersinproperlypaidworkto
bepaidintotheVictims’Fund.
theVictimSurchargetodeliverupto15new
rapecrisiscentres,andgiveexistingrapecrisis
centresstable,long-termfunding.
LegalAidtomakeitworkmoreefficiently.
24 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillchangethelawsothathistorical
convictionsforconsensualgaysexwithover16swillbetreatedasspentandwillnotshow
uponcriminalrecordschecks.
• Wewillextendanonymityinrapecasesto
defendants.
• Wewillintroduceeffectivemeasurestotackle
anti-socialbehaviourandlow-levelcrime,
includingformsofrestorativejusticesuchas
NeighbourhoodJusticePanels.
21.NATIONALSECURITY
TheGovernmentbelievesthatitsprimary
responsibilityistoensurenationalsecurity.We
needacoherentapproachtonationalsecurity
issuesacrossgovernment,andwewilltakeaction
totackleterrorism,anditscauses,athomeand
abroad.
• WehaveestablishedaNationalSecurity
CouncilandappointedaNationalSecurity
Adviser.
• WehavecommencedaStrategicDefenceand
SecurityReview,commissionedandoverseen
bytheNationalSecurityCouncil,withstrong
Treasuryinvolvement.Wewillalsodevelop
andpublishanewNationalSecurityStrategy.
• WewillurgentlyreviewControlOrders,as
partofawiderreviewofcounter-terrorist
legislation,measuresandprogrammes.We
willseektofindapracticalwaytoallowthe
useofinterceptevidenceincourt.
• Wewilldenypublicfundstoanygroupthat
hasrecentlyespousedorincitedviolenceor
hatred.Wewillproscribesuchorganisations,
subjecttotheadviceofthepoliceandsecurity
andintelligenceagencies.
• WebelievethatBritainshouldbeableto
deportforeignnationalswhothreaten
oursecuritytocountrieswherethereare
verifiableguaranteesthattheywillnotbe
tortured.Wewillseektoextendthese
guaranteestomorecountries.
22.NHS
TheGovernmentbelievesthattheNHSisan
importantexpressionofournationalvalues.
WearecommittedtoanNHSthatisfreeatthe
pointofuseandavailabletoeveryonebasedon
need,nottheabilitytopay.Wewanttofree
NHSstafffrompoliticalmicromanagement,
increasedemocraticparticipationintheNHS
andmaketheNHSmoreaccountabletothe
patientsthatitserves.Thatwaywewilldriveup
standards,supportprofessionalresponsibility,
deliverbettervalueformoneyandcreatea
healthiernation.
• Wewillguaranteethathealthspending
increasesinrealtermsineachyearofthe
Parliament,whilerecognisingtheimpactthis
decisionwillhaveonotherdepartments.
• Wewillstopthetop-downreorganisations
oftheNHSthathavegotinthewayof
patientcare.Wearecommittedtoreducing
duplicationandtheresourcesspenton
administration,anddivertingtheseresources
backtofront-linecare.
• Wewillsignificantlycutthenumberofhealth
quangos.
• WewillcutthecostofNHSadministration
byathirdandtransferresourcestosupport
doctorsandnursesonthefrontline.
• Wewillstopthecentrallydictatedclosureof
A&Eandmaternitywards,sothatpeoplehave
betteraccesstolocalservices.
• WewillstrengthenthepowerofGPsas
patients’expertguidesthroughthehealth
systembyenablingthemtocommissioncare
ontheirbehalf. • Wewillensurethatthereisastrongervoice
forpatientslocallythroughdirectlyelected
individualsontheboardsoftheirlocal
primarycaretrust(PCT).Theremainder
ofthePCT’sboardwillbeappointedbythe
relevantlocalauthorityorauthorities,and
theChiefExecutiveandprincipalofficerswill
beappointedbytheSecretaryofStateonthe
adviceofthenewindependentNHSboard.
Thiswillensuretherightbalancebetween
locallyaccountableindividualsandtechnical
expertise.
• ThelocalPCTwillactasachampionfor
patientsandcommissionthoseresidual
servicesthatarebestundertakenatawider
level,ratherthandirectlybyGPs.Itwillalso
takeresponsibilityforimprovingpublichealth
forpeopleintheirarea,workingclosely
withthelocalauthorityandotherlocal
organisations.
• Ifalocalauthorityhasconcernsabouta
significantproposedclosureoflocalservices,
forexampleanA&Edepartment,itwillhave
therighttochallengehealthorganisations,
andreferthecasetotheIndependent
ReconfigurationPanel.ThePanelwouldthen
provideadvicetotheSecretaryofStatefor
Health.
• Wewillgiveeverypatienttherighttochoose
toregisterwiththeGPtheywant,without
beingrestrictedbywheretheylive.
• Wewilldevelopa24/7urgentcareservicein
everyareaofEngland,includingGPout-ofhoursservices,andensureeverypatientcan
accessalocalGP.Wewillmakecaremore
accessiblebyintroducingasinglenumber
foreverykindofurgentcareandbyusing
technologytohelppeoplecommunicatewith
theirdoctors.
• WewillrenegotiatetheGPcontractand
incentivisewaysofimprovingaccessto
primarycareindisadvantagedareas.
• WewillmaketheNHSworkbetterby
extendingbestpracticeonimproving
dischargefromhospital,maximisingthe
numberofdaycareoperations,reducing
delayspriortooperations,andwherepossible
enablingcommunityaccesstocareand
treatments.
• Wewillhelpelderlypeopleliveathome
forlongerthroughsolutionssuchashome
adaptationsandcommunitysupport
programmes.
• Wewillprioritisedementiaresearchwithin
thehealthresearchanddevelopmentbudget.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 25
• Wewillseektostopforeignhealthcare
professionalsworkingintheNHSunlessthey
havepassedrobustlanguageandcompetence
tests.
• Doctorsandnursesneedtobeabletouse
theirprofessionaljudgementaboutwhatis
rightforpatientsandwewillsupportthisby
givingfront-linestaffmorecontroloftheir
workingenvironment.
• WewillstrengthentheroleoftheCare
QualityCommissionsoitbecomesan
effectivequalityinspectorate.Wewilldevelop
Monitorintoaneconomicregulatorthatwill
overseeaspectsofaccess,competitionand
price-settingintheNHS.
• WewillestablishanindependentNHS
boardtoallocateresourcesandprovide
commissioningguidelines.
• Wewillenablepatientstoratehospitalsand
doctorsaccordingtothequalityofcarethey
received,andwewillrequirehospitalstobe
openaboutmistakesandalwaystellpatientsif
somethinghasgonewrong.
• Wewillmeasureoursuccessonthehealth
resultsthatreallymatter–suchasimproving
cancerandstrokesurvivalratesorreducing
hospitalinfections.
• Wewillpublishdetaileddataaboutthe
performanceofhealthcareprovidersonline,
soeveryonewillknowwhoisprovidinga
goodserviceandwhoisfallingbehind.
• Wewillputpatientsinchargeofmaking
decisionsabouttheircare,includingcontrolof
theirhealthrecords.
• WewillcreateaCancerDrugsFundto
enablepatientstoaccessthecancerdrugs
theirdoctorsthinkwillhelpthem,paidfor
usingmoneysavedbytheNHSthroughour
pledgetostoptheriseinEmployerNational
InsurancecontributionsfromApril2011.
• WewillreformNICEandmovetoasystem
ofvalue-basedpricing,sothatallpatientscan
accessthedrugsandtreatmentstheirdoctors
thinktheyneed.
26 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillintroduceanewdentistrycontract
thatwillfocusonachievinggooddentalhealth
andincreasingaccesstoNHSdentistry,with
anadditionalfocusontheoralhealthof
schoolchildren.
• Wewillprovide£10millionayearbeyond
2011fromwithinthebudgetofthe
DepartmentofHealthtosupportchildren’s
hospicesintheirvitalwork.Andsothat
propersupportforthemostsickchildren
andadultscancontinueinthesettingoftheir
choice,wewillintroduceanewper-patient
fundingsystemforallhospicesandproviders
ofpalliativecare.
• WewillencourageNHSorganisationsto
workbetterwiththeirlocalpoliceforcesto
clampdownonanyonewhoisaggressiveand
abusivetostaff.
• Wearecommittedtothecontinuous
improvementofthequalityofservicesto
patients,andtoachievingthisthroughmuch
greaterinvolvementofindependentand
voluntaryproviders.
• Wewillgiveeverypatientthepower
tochooseanyhealthcareproviderthat
meetsNHSstandards,withinNHSprices.
Thisincludesindependent,voluntaryand
communitysectorproviders.
23.PENSIONSANDOLDER
PEOPLE
TheGovernmentbelievesthatpeopledeserve
dignityandrespectinoldage,andthatthey
shouldbeprovidedwiththesupportthey
need.Thatmeanssafeguardingkeybenefitsand
pensions,andtakingactiontomakeiteasierfor
olderpeopletoworkorvolunteer.
• Wewillrestoretheearningslinkforthebasic
statepensionfromApril2011,witha‘triple
guarantee’thatpensionsareraisedbythe
higherofearnings,pricesor2.5%.
• Wewillcommittoestablishingan
independentcommissiontoreviewthelongtermaffordabilityofpublicsectorpensions,
whileprotectingaccruedrights.
• Wewillphaseoutthedefaultretirementage
andholdareviewtosetthedateatwhichthe
statepensionagestartstoriseto66,although
itwillnotbesoonerthan2016formenand
2020forwomen.Wewillendtherules
requiringcompulsoryannuitisationat75.
• WewillimplementtheParliamentaryand
HealthOmbudsman’srecommendation
tomakefairandtransparentpaymentsto
EquitableLifepolicyholders,throughan
independentpaymentscheme,fortheir
relativelossasaconsequenceofregulatory
failure.
• Wewillexplorethepotentialtogivepeople
greaterflexibilityinaccessingpartoftheir
personalpensionfundearly.
• Wewillprotectkeybenefitsforolderpeople
suchasthewinterfuelallowance,freeTV
licences,freebustravel,andfreeeyetestsand
prescriptions.
• Wewillsimplifytherulesandregulations
relatingtopensionstohelpreinvigorate
occupationalpensions,encouraging
companiestoofferhigh-qualitypensionsto
allemployees,andwewillworkwithbusiness
andtheindustrytosupportautoenrolment.
24.POLITICALREFORM
TheGovernmentbelievesthatourpolitical
systemisbroken.Weurgentlyneedfundamental
politicalreform,includingareferendumon
electoralreform,muchgreaterco-operation
acrosspartylines,andchangestoourpolitical
systemtomakeitfarmoretransparentand
accountable.
• Wewillestablishfive-yearfixed-term
Parliaments.Wewillputabindingmotion
beforetheHouseofCommonsstatingthat
thenextgeneralelectionwillbeheldonthe
firstThursdayofMay2015.Followingthis
motion,wewilllegislatetomakeprovision
forfixed-termParliamentsoffiveyears.This
legislationwillalsoprovidefordissolutionif
55%ormoreoftheHousevotesinfavour.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 27
• WewillbringforwardaReferendumBillon
electoralreform,whichincludesprovisionfor
theintroductionoftheAlternativeVoteinthe
eventofapositiveresultinthereferendum,
aswellasforthecreationoffewerandmore
equalsizedconstituencies.Wewillwhip
bothParliamentarypartiesinbothHouses
tosupportasimplemajorityreferendumon
theAlternativeVote,withoutprejudiceto
thepositionspartieswilltakeduringsucha
referendum.
• Wewillbringforwardearlylegislationto
introduceapowerofrecall,allowingvoters
toforceaby-electionwhereanMPisfound
tohaveengagedinseriouswrongdoingand
havinghadapetitioncallingforaby-election
signedby10%ofhisorherconstituents.
• Wewillestablishacommitteetobring
forwardproposalsforawhollyormainly
electedupperchamberonthebasisof
proportionalrepresentation.Thecommittee
willcomeforwardwithadraftmotionby
December2010.Itislikelythatthiswill
advocatesinglelongtermsofoffice.Itis
alsolikelythattherewillbeagrandfathering
systemforcurrentPeers.Intheinterim,
Lordsappointmentswillbemadewiththe
objectiveofcreatingasecondchamberthat
isreflectiveoftheshareofthevotesecured
bythepoliticalpartiesinthelastgeneral
election.
• Wewillbringforwardtheproposalsof
theWrightCommitteeforreformtothe
HouseofCommonsinfull–startingwith
theproposedcommitteeformanagement
ofbackbenchbusiness.AHouseBusiness
Committee,toconsidergovernmentbusiness,
willbeestablishedbythethirdyearofthe
Parliament.
• Wewillreduceelectoralfraudbyspeeding
uptheimplementationofindividualvoter
registration.
• Wewillestablishacommissiontoconsider
the‘WestLothianquestion’.
• Wewillpreventthepossiblemisuseof
ParliamentaryprivilegebyMPsaccusedof
seriouswrongdoing.
• Wewillcuttheperksandbureaucracy
associatedwithParliament.
• WewillconsultwiththeIndependent
ParliamentaryStandardsAuthorityonhow
tomoveawayfromthegenerousfinal-salary
pensionsystemforMPs.
• Wewillfund200all-postalprimariesover
thisParliament,targetedatseatswhichhave
notchangedhandsformanyyears.These
fundswillbeallocatedtoallpoliticalparties
withseatsinParliamentthattheytakeup,in
proportiontotheirshareofthetotalvotein
thelastgeneralelection.
• Wewillensurethatanypetitionthatsecures
100,000signatureswillbeeligibleforformal
debateinParliament.Thepetitionwiththe
mostsignatureswillenablemembersofthe
publictotableabilleligibletobevotedonin
Parliament.
• Wewillintroduceanew‘publicreadingstage’
forbillstogivethepublicanopportunityto
commentonproposedlegislationonline,and
adedicated‘publicreadingday’withinabill’s
committeestagewherethosecommentswill
bedebatedbythecommitteescrutinising
the bill.
• Wewillimprovethecivilservice,andmake
iteasiertorewardthebestcivilservantsand
removetheleasteffective.
• WewillreformtheCivilService
CompensationSchemetobringitintoline
withpracticeintheprivatesector.
• WewillputalimitonthenumberonSpecial
Advisers.
• Wewillintroduceextrasupportforpeople
withdisabilitieswhowanttobecomeMPs,
councillorsorotherelectedofficials.
• WewillopenupWhitehallrecruitmentby
publishingcentralgovernmentjobvacancies
online.
• WewillpublishdetailsofeveryUKproject
thatreceivesover£25,000ofEUfunds.
• Wewillgiveresidentsthepowertoinstigate
localreferendumsonanylocalissue.
28 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
• Wewillstopplanstoimposesupplementary
businessratesonfirmsifamajorityofthe
firmsaffecteddonotgivetheirconsent.
• Wewillgiveresidentsthepowertoveto
excessivecounciltaxincreases.
• Wewillcontinuetopromotepeace,stability
andeconomicprosperityinNorthernIreland,
standingfirmlybehindtheagreements
negotiatedandinstitutionstheyestablish.
WewillworktobringNorthernIrelandback
intothemainstreamofUKpolitics,including
producingagovernmentpaperexamining
potentialmechanismsforchangingthe
corporationtaxrateinNorthernIreland.
25.PUBLICHEALTH
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedactionto
promotepublichealth,andencouragebehaviour
changetohelppeoplelivehealthierlives.We
needanambitiousstrategytopreventill-health
whichharnessesinnovativetechniquestohelp
peopletakeresponsibilityfortheirownhealth.
• Wewillgivelocalcommunitiesgreater
controloverpublichealthbudgetswith
paymentbytheoutcomestheyachievein
improvingthehealthoflocalresidents.
• WewillgiveGPsgreaterincentivestotackle
publichealthproblems.
• Wewillimplementtheproposalsofthe
• Wewillinvestigatewaysofimprovingaccess
• Wewillreviewthecontrolanduseof
• Wewillensuregreateraccesstotalking
CalmanCommissionandintroducea
referendumonfurtherWelshdevolution.
accumulatedandfuturerevenuesfromthe
FossilFuelLevyinScotland.
• Werecognisetheconcernsexpressedby
theHolthamCommissiononthesystemof
devolutionfunding.However,atthistime,
theprioritymustbetoreducethedeficit
andthereforeanychangetothesystem
mustawaitthestabilisationofthepublic
finances.Dependingontheoutcomeofthe
forthcomingreferendum,wewillestablisha
processsimilartotheCalmanCommission
fortheWelshAssembly.Wewilltake
forwardtheSustainableHomesLegislative
CompetenceOrder.
• Wewillmaketherunningofgovernment
moreefficientbyintroducingenhanced
DepartmentalBoardswhichwillform
collectiveoperationalleadershipof
governmentdepartments.
topreventativehealthcareforthosein
disadvantagedareastohelptacklehealth
inequalities.
therapiestoreducelong-termcostsforthe
NHS.
26.SCHOOLS
TheGovernmentbelievesthatweneedto
reformourschoolsystemtotackleeducational
inequality,whichhaswidenedinrecentyears,
andtogivegreaterpowerstoparentsandpupils
tochooseagoodschool.Wewanttoensure
highstandardsofdisciplineintheclassroom,
robuststandardsandthehighestqualityteaching.
Wealsobelievethatthestateshouldhelp
parents,communitygroupsandotherscome
togethertoimprovetheeducationsystemby
startingnewschools.
• Wewillpromotethereformofschoolsin
ordertoensurethatnewproviderscan
enterthestateschoolsysteminresponseto
parentaldemand;thatallschoolshavegreater
freedomoverthecurriculum;andthatall
schoolsareheldproperlytoaccount.
• Wewillfundasignificantpremiumfor
disadvantagedpupilsfromoutsidetheschools
budgetbyreductionsinspendingelsewhere.
• Wewillgiveparents,teachers,charitiesand
localcommunitiesthechancetosetupnew
schools,aspartofourplanstoallownew
providerstoenterthestateschoolsystemin
responsetoparentaldemand.
• WewillsupportTeachFirst,createTeach
NowtobuildontheGraduateTeacher
Programme,andseekotherwaystoimprove
thequalityoftheteachingprofession.
• Wewillreformtheexistingrigidnationalpay
andconditionsrulestogiveschoolsgreater
freedomstopaygoodteachersmoreanddeal
withpoorperformance.
• Wewillhelpschoolstacklebullyinginschools,
especiallyhomophobicbullying.
• Wewillsimplifytheregulationofstandardsin
educationandtargetinspectiononareasof
failure.
• Wewillgiveanonymitytoteachersaccused
bypupilsandtakeothermeasurestoprotect
againstfalseaccusations.
• Wewillseektoattractmoretopscienceand
mathsgraduatestobeteachers.
• Wewillpublishperformancedataon
educationalproviders,aswellaspastexam
papers.
• Wewillcreatemoreflexibilityintheexams
systemssothatstateschoolscanoffer
qualificationsliketheIGCSE.
• Wewillreformleaguetablessothatschools
areabletofocuson,anddemonstrate,the
progressofchildrenofallabilities.
• Wewillgiveheadsandteachersthepowers
theyneedtoensuredisciplineinthe
classroomandpromotegoodbehaviour.
• Webelievethemostvulnerablechildren
deservetheveryhighestqualityofcare.
Wewillimprovediagnosticassessmentfor
schoolchildren,preventtheunnecessary
closureofspecialschools,andremovethebias
towardsinclusion.
• Wewillimprovethequalityofvocational
education,includingincreasingflexibilityfor
14–19yearoldsandcreatingnewTechnical
Academiesaspartofourplanstodiversify
schoolsprovision.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 29
• Wewillkeepexternalassessment,butwill
reviewhowKeyStage2testsoperatein
future.
• WewillensurethatallnewAcademiesfollow
aninclusiveadmissionspolicy.Wewillwork
withfaithgroupstoenablemorefaithschools
andfacilitateinclusiveadmissionspoliciesinas
manyoftheseschoolsaspossible.
27.SOCIALACTION
TheGovernmentbelievesthattheinnovation
andenthusiasmofcivilsocietyisessential
intacklingthesocial,economicandpolitical
challengesthattheUKfacestoday.Wewill
takeactiontosupportandencouragesocial
responsibility,volunteeringandphilanthropy,and
makeiteasierforpeopletocometogetherto
improvetheircommunitiesandhelponeanother.
• Wewillsupportthecreationandexpansion
ofmutuals,co-operatives,charitiesandsocial
enterprises,andenablethesegroupstohave
muchgreaterinvolvementintherunningof
publicservices.
• Wewillgivepublicsectorworkersanew
righttoformemployee-ownedco-operatives
andbidtotakeovertheservicestheydeliver.
Thiswillempowermillionsofpublicsector
workerstobecometheirownbossandhelp
themtodeliverbetterservices.
• Wewilltrainanewgenerationofcommunity
organisersandsupportthecreationof
neighbourhoodgroupsacrosstheUK,
especiallyinthemostdeprivedareas.
• Wewilltakearangeofmeasuresto
encouragecharitablegivingandphilanthropy.
• WewillintroduceNationalCitizenService.
Theinitialflagshipprojectwillprovidea
programmefor16yearoldstogivethema
chancetodeveloptheskillsneededtobe
activeandresponsiblecitizens,mixwith
peoplefromdifferentbackgrounds,andstart
gettinginvolvedintheircommunities.
• Wewillusefundsfromdormantbank
accountstoestablisha‘BigSociety
Bank’,whichwillprovidenewfinancefor
30 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
neighbourhoodgroups,charities,social
enterprisesandothernon-governmental
bodies.
• Wewilltakearangeofmeasuresto
encouragevolunteeringandinvolvementin
socialaction,includinglaunchinganationalday
tocelebrateandencouragesocialaction,and
makeregularcommunityserviceanelement
ofcivilservicestaffappraisals.
28.SOCIALCAREAND
DISABILITY
TheGovernmentbelievesthatpeopleneeding
caredeservetobetreatedwithdignityand
respect.Weunderstandtheurgencyof
reformingthesystemofsocialcaretoprovide
muchmorecontroltoindividualsandtheir
carers,andtoeasethecostburdenthattheyand
theirfamiliesface.
• Wewillestablishacommissiononlong-term
care,toreportwithinayear.Thecommission
willconsiderarangeofideas,includingboth
avoluntaryinsuranceschemetoprotectthe
assetsofthosewhogointoresidentialcare,
andapartnershipschemeasproposedby
DerekWanless.
• Wewillbreakdownbarriersbetween
healthandsocialcarefundingtoincentivise
preventativeaction.
• Wewillextendthegreaterroll-outof
personalbudgetstogivepeopleandtheir
carersmorecontrolandpurchasingpower.
• Wewillusedirectpaymentstocarersand
bettercommunity-basedprovisiontoimprove
accesstorespitecare.
• WewillreformAccesstoWork,sodisabled
peoplecanapplyforjobswithfundingalready
securedforanyadaptationsandequipment
theywillneed.
29.TAXATION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatthetaxsystem
needstobereformedtomakeitmore
competitive,simpler,greenerandfairer.Weneed
totakeactiontoensurethatthetaxframework
betterreflectsthevaluesofthisGovernment.
• Wewillincreasethepersonalallowance
forincometaxtohelplowerandmiddle
incomeearners.Wewillannounceinthe
firstBudgetasubstantialincreaseinthe
personalallowancefromApril2011,withthe
benefitsfocusedonthosewithlowerand
middleincomes.Thiswillbefundedwiththe
moneythatwouldhavebeenusedtopayfor
theincreaseinemployeeNationalInsurance
thresholdsproposedbytheConservative
Party,aswellasrevenuesfromincreases
inCapitalGainsTaxratesfornon-business
assetsasdescribedbelow.Theincreasein
employerNationalInsurancethresholds
proposedbytheConservativeswillgoahead
inordertostoptheplannedjobstax.
• Wewillfurtherincreasethepersonal
allowanceto£10,000,makingrealtermssteps
eachyeartowardsmeetingthisasalongertermpolicyobjective.Wewillprioritise
thisoverothertaxcuts,includingcutsto
InheritanceTax.
• Wewillalsoensurethatprovisionismade
forLiberalDemocratMPstoabstainon
budgetresolutionstointroducetransferable
taxallowancesformarriedcoupleswithout
prejudicetothecoalitionagreement.
• Wewillreformthetaxationofairtravelby
switchingfromaper-passengertoaper-plane
duty,andwillensurethataproportionofany
increasedrevenuesovertimewillbeusedto
helpfundincreasesinthepersonalallowance.
• Wewillseekwaysoftaxingnon-business
capitalgainsatratessimilarorclosetothose
appliedtoincome,withgenerousexemptions
forentrepreneurialbusinessactivities.
• Wewillmakeeveryefforttotackletax
avoidance,includingdetaileddevelopmentof
LiberalDemocratproposals.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 31
• Wewillincreasetheproportionoftax
revenueaccountedforbyenvironmental
taxes.
• WewilltakemeasurestofulfilourEUtreaty
obligationsinregardtothetaxationof
holidaylettingthatdonotpenaliseUK-based
businesses.
• Wewillreviewthetaxationofnon-domiciled
individuals.
30.TRANSPORT
TheGovernmentbelievesthatamodern
transportinfrastructureisessentialforadynamic
andentrepreneurialeconomy,aswellasto
improvewell-beingandqualityoflife.Weneed
tomakethetransportsectorgreenerandmore
sustainable,withtougheremissionstandardsand
supportfornewtransporttechnologies.
• Wewillmandateanationalrecharging
networkforelectricandplug-inhybrid
vehicles.
• Wewillgrantlongerrailfranchisesinorderto
giveoperatorstheincentivetoinvestinthe
improvementspassengerswant–likebetter
services,betterstations,longertrainsand
betterrollingstock.
• Wewillreformthewaydecisionsaremade
onwhichtransportprojectstoprioritise,
sothatthebenefitsoflowcarbonproposals
(includinglightrailschemes)arefully
recognised.
• WewillmakeNetworkRailmoreaccountable
toitscustomers.
• Wewillestablishahighspeedrailnetworkas
partofourprogrammeofmeasurestofulfil
ourjointambitionsforcreatingalowcarbon
economy.Ourvisionisofatrulynationalhigh
speedrailnetworkforthewholeofBritain.
Givenfinancialconstraints,wewillhaveto
achievethisinphases.
• WesupportCrossrailandfurther
electrificationoftherailnetwork.
• Wewillturntherailregulatorintoapowerful
passengerchampion.
• Wewillsupportsustainabletravelinitiatives,
includingthepromotionofcyclingand
walking,andwillencouragejointworking
betweenbusoperatorsandlocalauthorities.
• Wearecommittedtofairpricingforrail
travel.
• Wewillworktowardstheintroductionof
anewsystemofHGVroaduserchargingto
ensureafairerarrangementforUKhauliers.
• Wewillstopcentralgovernmentfundingfor
newfixedspeedcamerasandswitchtomore
effectivewaysofmakingourroadssafer,
includingauthorising‘drugalyser’technology.
• Wewilltacklerogueprivatesectorwheel
clampers.
31.UNIVERSITIESANDFURTHER
EDUCATION
TheGovernmentbelievesthatouruniversities
areessentialforbuildingastrongandinnovative
economy.Wewilltakeactiontocreatemore
collegeanduniversityplaces,aswellashelp
tofosterstrongerlinksbetweenuniversities,
collegesandindustries.
• Wewillseekwaystosupportthecreationof
apprenticeships,internships,workpairings,
andcollegeandworkplacetrainingplacesas
partofourwiderprogrammetogetBritain
working.
• Wewillsetcollegesfreefromdirectstate
controlandabolishmanyofthefurther
educationquangos.Publicfundingshouldbe
fairandfollowthechoicesofstudents.
• WewillawaitLordBrowne’sfinalreportinto
highereducationfunding,andwilljudgeits
proposalsagainsttheneedto:
– increasesocialmobility;
– takeintoaccounttheimpactonstudent
debt;
– ensureaproperlyfundeduniversitysector;
– improvethequalityofteaching;
– advancescholarship;and
32 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
– attractahigherproportionofstudents
fromdisadvantagedbackgrounds.
• IftheresponseoftheGovernmentto
LordBrowne’sreportisonethatLiberal
Democratscannotaccept,thenarrangements
willbemadetoenableLiberalDemocratMPs
toabstaininanyvote.
• Wewillreviewsupportforpart-timestudents
intermsofloansandfees.
• Wewillpublishmoreinformationabout
thecosts,graduateearningsandstudent
satisfactionofdifferentuniversitycourses.
• Wewillensurethatpublicfunding
mechanismsforuniversityresearchsafeguard
itsacademicintegrity.
TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment 33
34 TheCoalition:ourprogrammeforgovernment
Thedeficitreductionprogrammetakesprecedenceover
anyoftheothermeasuresinthisagreement,andthespeed
ofimplementationofanymeasuresthathaveacosttothe
publicfinanceswilldependondecisionstobemadeinthe
ComprehensiveSpendingReview.
TheGovernmentfullysupportsthedevolutionofpowers
toNorthernIreland,ScotlandandWales.Asaresultof
devolution,manydecisionsmadebyUKMinistersorin
theWestminsterParliamentnowapplytoEnglandonly.
The NorthernIrelandExecutive,theScottishExecutiveand
theWelsh AssemblyGovernmentmaketheirownpolicyon
theirdevolved issues.Thisdocumentthereforesetsoutthe
agreedprioritiesfortheCoalitionGovernment
inWestminster.
CabinetOffice
22Whitehall
LondonSW1A2WH
Publicationdate:May2010
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