The
Data
Communications Bill was a notable omission from the Queen's
Speech today whilst the economy took centre stage.
The Queen's Speech outlined the government's legislative
programme for the next parliamentary session. A total of
13 bills made the cut from 18 proposed in May.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown proposed the Communications Data
Bill in the government's draft legislation programme for 2008/09 in
May. It was one of 18 proposed Bills that would have become law if
it passed through Parliament.
The Bill would have forced communications companies to keep logs
of internet usage and make this information available to the
police. A similar law regarding telephone conversations exists.
According to the government the purpose of the Bill was to
"allow communications data capabilities for the prevention and
detection of crime and protection of national security to keep up
with changing technology through providing for the collection and
retention of such data, including data not required for the
business purposes of communications service providers and to ensure
strict safeguards continue to strike the proper balance between
privacy and protecting the public."
The government said in October that it will hold a second
public consultation on the Bill in the New Year.
This means the government could miss its self-imposed deadline
to comply with the European Data Retention Directive by March
2009.
It is also expected to
slow the progress of the Interception Modernisation Programme,
a scheme to create a centralised database of all electronic
communications between everyone in the UK. The government has
already spent at least £1bn on the plan, which reports say could
cost as much as £12bn.
The Queen's Speech included:
Banking Bill
Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill
Business Rates Supplements Bill
Child Poverty Bill
Children, Skills and Learning Bill
Coroners and Justice Bill
Equality Bill
Health Bill
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill
Marine and Coastal Access Bill
Policing and Crime Bill
Political Parties and Elections Bill
Saving Gateway Accounts Bill
Welfare Reform Bill