HS2, space and electric cars in Queen’s Speech

But Labour and SNP want to block it

NEW laws to extend the High Speed 2 line will be announced in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech as part of a drive on key infrastructure projects.

Legislation to encourage space rockets to be launched from UK soil and to spread the use of electric cars will also be included in the two-year programme, which will otherwise be dominated by Brexit.

A new immigration Bill will be published which will set out the system for reducing migrant numbers after free movement comes to an end.

But major policy commitments from the Conservative election manifesto have been abandoned by Downing Street in an attempt to devise a legislative programme which can get through Parliament.

Last night it emerged that opposition MPs would attempt to bring down the Government with amendments to the Queen’s Speech.

Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP MPs will try to overturn the Government’s working majority of 13 and trigger a no-confidence vote.

A Bill that will allow the extension of the HS2 rail project from Birmingham to Manchester will be announced in the Queen’s Speech. Officials say that as well as providing quick trains to London, the development will expand capacity on commuter lines.

Phase one of HS2 London to Birmingham has been approved by Parliament but even by the most optimistic estimates will not be completed for another decade.

The total budget for HS2 is £56billion but critics say the eventual bill could top £100billion.

Ministers said they want to establish spaceports in ‘regions across the UK’, to allow satellites to be sent into space for the first time from

‘Thrive as we leave the EU’

UK soil, and to allow spacecraft to fly to the edge of the atmosphere. Satellites cannot currently be launched from the UK.

The new law will allow ministers to licence various spacerelated activities including rockets, ‘space planes’, and satellite operation. Other powers will make it easier for drivers of electric cars to register to use charging points. There are an estimated 100,000 electric cars and vans on Britain’s roads.

Last night Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘We are absolutely determined to give Britain the transport infrastructure it needs so that we can thrive and grow as we leave the European Union.

‘The measures we outline this week will ensure our legal structures are ready for the high skill, highly paid jobs of the future, while backing the transport projects that will make journeys better for ordinary working people.

The Parliamentary session, which is usually one year long, has been doubled to two to allow more time for Brexit legislation to pass.

The most important is the Great Repeal Bill, which will end jurisdiction by the European Courts and repeal the European Communities Act.

It will also put on the domestic statute book vast amounts of existing EU law to try to smooth the process of Brexit.

But the main policy announcement of last year – Theresa May’s grammar schools revolution – has been abandoned. A Conservative manifesto pledge to ditch free school meals for all infants has also been ditched along with abolishing the cap on admissions to faith schools.

The economy will continue to grow thanks to strong business investment and a trade boost from the weaker pound, the CBI said yesterday.

The business lobby group raised its growth forecasts to 1.6 per cent this year and 1.4 per cent in 2018, up from 1.3 per cent and 1.1 per cent predicted in November.