However, despite having had time to mull over the government's draft legislative programme since July, the speech did have some surprises.
For instance, two reviews are under way that may feed into forthcoming legislation in the spring of next year; one on work/life balance that might lead to an extension of a parent's right to ask for flexible work hours and the other exploring what we mean by, and expect from each other in terms of our British citizenship and nationality. We will also see a draft Bill that should result in a huge expansion of the apprenticeship programme.
Two Bills we had anticipated were excluded from the speech. Although the Coroners Bill has been delayed, we understand that the government plans to publish an updated Charter for Bereaved People. The Childhood Bereavement Network, hosted by NCB, will contribute to the revision of that document. The much-criticised proposals for a Single Equality Bill - the Bill that could exempt under-18s from protection against age discrimination - have also been deferred.
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