Ministers signalled today that "fair rules" would be at the heart of the Queen's Speech, with measures to crack down on benefit fraud and get more people into work.
Ministers signalled today that "fair rules" would be at the heart of the Queen's Speech, with measures to crack down on benefit fraud and get more people into work.
Gordon Brown promised that recent work to support the ailing economy would be matched by far-reaching reforms to stop people shirking their responsibilities to society.
Ahead of tomorrow's State Opening of Parliament, when the Queen will set out the legislative programme for the year ahead, he set out 50 measures to support those who play by the rules.
As well as welfare reforms designed to get more people into work, offenders will face "tougher" community service while pubs and clubs will be forced to scale back drinks promotions.
The Government is also planning to reclassify lap-dancing clubs as "sex encounter establishments" to give councils more powers over them.
"Stronger communities, quite simply, will help our country come through these times faster and stronger," the Prime Minister said.
"So as Government takes action, we expect people to play their part in return, with clear consequences for those who do not."
In Britain, he added, there could never be "one rule for some, and another rule for others".
Tomorrow's Queen's Speech will herald the last full legislative programme before the next general election, unless Mr Brown opts to go to the country early, next year.
Much of its contents were pre-announced by the Prime Minister in May, including:
:: a welfare reform Bill, requiring the unemployed to undergo skills assessments and incapacity benefit claimants to be medically assessed;
:: a citizenship, immigration and borders Bill requiring new immigrants to learn English and restricting full access to benefits and social housing to full British citizens;
:: a policing and crime reduction Bill, strengthening police powers to seize assets and introducing directly-elected police representatives.
Aspects of the programme announced in May are understood to have been scaled back in a re-shaping of priorities in the wake of the rapid deterioration of the economy since then.
A communications data Bill, paving the way for a massive database of phone calls and emails, and a heritage protection Bill are said to have been scrapped altogether.
Reports have suggested there has also been last-minute debate about the inclusion of a clampdown on cigarette sales, forcing them "under the counter" and banning tobacco vending machines.
Officials stressed today that major areas of reform for the Government revolved around welfare reform, crime and immigration.
Welfare measures include a new "one-strike" rule for benefit cheats which would mean fraudsters would lose their entitlements for four weeks.
The unemployed will lose their Jobseeker's Allowance if they turn down any job after several months on the dole, while lone parents may be forced onto JSA rather than income support when their children reach the age of seven.
Offenders face "tougher" community payback schemes which require them to wear high visibility bibs.
Pubs, clubs and off-licences are to be issued with new restrictions on alcohol sales which encourage irresponsible drinking.
Migrants are to be asked to contribute to the cost of pressures on local public services.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said the economic turmoil facing millions of hard-pressed families underscored the need for "fair rules".
"We are and will continue to support people who really need our help," she said.
"But no-one should be in any doubt - if you intend to take more out of the system than you put in, you won't get away with it."
