The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday
11 May. The Queen’s Speech will set out the Government’s
agenda for the next session and its plans to build back
better from the pandemic and level-up opportunities across
the country.
The Queen’s Speech will also confirm the continuation of a
number of bills carrying over from this parliamentary year,
including the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill,
the Environment Bill and the Armed Forces Bill. The
Government has also already confirmed it will introduce
legislation to improve the building safety regulatory
regime, reform our asylum system and to repeal the
Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
In light of the pandemic it is expected that the State
Opening will be adapted, with reduced ceremonial elements
and attendees to ensure it is COVID-secure.
The Government, Palace and Parliamentary Authorities,
together with Public Health England, are working to develop
these plans. The State Opening will involve significantly
fewer MPs and peers in attendance, a reduced Royal
Procession into the Lords Chamber and no diplomatic or
non-parliamentary guests.
As is usual, the current session of Parliament will be
prorogued ahead of the Queen’s Speech and this time will be
used to enable logistical and security preparations for the
State Opening of Parliament. The likely date of prorogation
will be confirmed in due course.
A No10 spokesperson said:
While we are still in the middle of a pandemic this
Queen’s Speech will look quite different, but it is
important we take forward our plans and deliver policies
to improve the lives of people across the country through
a new Parliamentary session.
We are working closely with Public Health England to
ensure arrangements are COVID-secure.
