The Queen's Speech set out the Bills the Government intends to pass over one long Parliamentary session lasting two years. Many Conservative manifesto pledges were absent, among them a cap on energy bills, ending the State Pension "triple lock" and means testing the winter fuel payment in England and Wales. John Cullinane, Tax Policy Director at the Chartered Institute of Taxation explains what has and hasn't changed and Steve Thomas, Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Greenwich examines the new Smart Meter Bill. David Jackson, Head of National Planning at Savills Property Group explains his research into planning permissions for new homes. It suggests they're being concentrated in the wrong areas, where there's less need for housing. A defined benefit pension pays retirement income which is related to pay and length of time in the scheme. Since reforms in 2015, which allowed people over the age of 55 to release cash from their pensions, more people have been transferring out of defined benefit schemes. The FCA now plans to consult on how advice should be provided to people who are considering it. Former FCA Technical Specialist Rory Percival and Claire Trott, Head of Pensions Strategy with Technical Connection discuss. A group of single parents with a child under two have won a legal challenge against the government's benefit cap. It limits the total amount of benefit received to £20,000 a year except for in London where it's £23,000. To avoid it a lone parent must be able to work for at least 16 hours a week. A High Court judge said the limit was not meant to cover those households and failure to exclude them from the cap was discriminatory. Dalia Ben-Galim, Director of Policy at Gingerbread outlines what it means for lone parents.
