Earlier this year, Gordon Brown outlined the Government's legislative proposals for the 2008-09 Parliamentary session. They will be subject to public consultation before being finalised in the Queen's Speech in November. The package included an NHS Reform Bill as well as Bills relevant to the health service on Community Empowerment, Education and Skills and Equality.

NHS Reform Bill

• The Bill will be used to bring forward those proposals of Lord Darzi's 'NHS Next Stage Review' which require primary legislation for their implementation.
• An NHS Constitution will be aimed at reinforcing the core purpose and values of the NHS and detailing rights to minimum standards of access, quality and safety
• The relationship between the public and Primary Care Trusts' will be strengthened, allowing the public to be more involved in commissioning arrangements.
• Patients will also be given greater control in terms of information on their care and access to individualised budgets.
• Measures for payment based on patient satisfaction and health outcomes will be introduced.
• There will be new powers as part of a comprehensive NHS performance regime to ensure no healthcare provider falls below minimum standards
• There will be a greater emphasis on prevention rather than treatment.

Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration Bill

The Bill:

• will have measures to empower communities and individuals by involving them in the design and delivery of local public services; and,
• there may be a right for individuals to have a right of response from their local authority to local petitions.

Education and Skills Bill

The Bill will introduce:

• a right for employees to request from their employer time to undertake relevant training;
• a statutory entitlement to Apprenticeships for all suitable qualified young people; and,
• a demand led adult skills system with a new adult advancement and careers service in a new post-19 Skills Funding Agency.

Equality Bill

The main elements of the Bill are:

• a single equality duty on public bodies to consider the diverse needs and requirements of their workforce, and the communities they serve, when developing employment policies and planning services;
• increase transparency so inequality is not hidden;
• employment tribunals will be able to make recommendations to employers on their working practices;
• positive action measures to allow employers to make their organisation or business more representative and public bodies to deliver services in a more effective way to disadvantaged groups; and,
• it will bring together nine major pieces of legislation and around 100 other laws in a single Bill.

The Prime Minister also announced plans to extend flexible working for parents of older children by April 2009.