Queen’s speech provides little for employers

The Queen’s speech has been criticised for lacking anything to improve business or working lives.

David Frost, director general, British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This Queen’s speech is a further sign that business is not high on the Government’s agenda. There are no real Bills here to make a difference to businesses.

“The speech has left business out in the cold and it looks as though that is where we will be staying until the election.”

Frost did however welcome moves to create a new single equalities commission and the extension of child benefit to encourage young people into training.

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The Queen announced plans to create a Corporate Manslaughter Bill that will hold bosses to account when people are killed in disasters. However unions claim the Bill, which was first promised in 2001, has been watered down.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said: “We are pleased to see a draft Bill on corporate manslaughter. But we are disappointed that the Bill doesn’t threaten individual directors with the ultimate sanction of a jail sentence.”