THE government unveiled dramatic measures in the Queen's speech to tackle the economic crisis and help families feeling the pinch.

They promised a Bill to allow the Treasury to step in if a big bank gets into severe difficulties. Banks could face huge fines if they fail to treat customers fairly.

The Queen's speech, delivered in the House of Lords, also promise laws to curb binge drinking, possible lie detector tests for benefits cheats - as revealed in the MEN - and a crackdown on truancy in schools.

The programme for the Gordon Brown's last full year before a general election includes 13 new Bills.

Some plans have been ditched, including plans to allow intelligence agencies to record people's phone calls and e-mails on a data base.

The Banking Bill promises more secure protection for bank depositors, following concerns that banks are flouting their own guidelines because of the credit crunch.

Small businesses have claimed that the conditions for loans and overdrafts are being changed at short notice, leaving them at risk of running out of cash, and the new Bill could mean big fines for firms breaking the rules.

There will be special measures to allow the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority to intervene when a bank gets into hot water.

The government has already announced that depositors' savings will be protected up to £50,000 if a bank gets into trouble.

In a speech which promised fewer measures than normal, largely because of the economic crisis, the government said they wanted to give more power to the people, encouraging citizens to join their local council, more airport security and also forecast an attack on truancy in schools, to reduce persistent absence from the classroom.

In an address prepared for her by the government, the Queen told MPs and peers that ministers’ “overriding priority” in the new parliamentary session will be “to ensure the stability of the British economy through the global economic downturn”.

And she added: “My government is committed to helping families and businesses through difficult times.”

The programme represents a scaling back of the draft legislative programme set out by the Prime Minister in May, with less urgent bills dropped or merged to allow ministers more time to address the UK’s economic difficulties.

The Bills:

Councils

The programme includes measures to give local councils greater decision-making power and new means to promote the economy of their area, as well as a legal duty for them to respond to petitions from the public.

Construction

The construction sector, which has been one of the main victims of the recession, is to be helped with new measures to provide a “fairer” system of commercial contracts and more cash flow.

Benefits

A Welfare Reform Bill will introduce new requirements for disabled people and single parents to seek work, with the aim to cut Incapacity Benefit claimants by one million, help 300,000 lone parents and one million older people into work and achieve an all-time high employment rate of 80%.

 The Bill will also abolish Income Support in favour of a new streamlined system of out-of-work benefits.

Migrants

A Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill will place new responsibilities on migrants wishing to settle in the UK, slowing down the path to citizenship if they commit crimes or fail to integrate. It will also bring Customs functions under the UK Borders Agency, providing an “integrated approach to border control”.

Police/crime

And police accountability will be increased by the introduction of directly elected representatives to police authorities in a Policing and Crime Bill which also tightens up controls over the licensing of lap-dancing clubs and the sale of alcohol.

Child poverty

The Government’s target of ending child poverty by 2020 will be enshrined in law through a Child Poverty Bill and a Health Bill will establish a new constitution for the NHS.

Saving for poor

A Savings Gateway Accounts Bill aims to create a new financial incentive for eight million of the UK’s poorest people to save, with the Government contributing 50p for every £1 saved.

Equality Bill

This Bill will combine nine pieces of anti-discrimination legislation and 100 statutory instruments into a single Act of Parliament to give everyone “a fair chance in life” regardless of gender, race, sexuality or disability.

Education

Schools and colleges will be given powers to search pupils for alcohol, drugs and stolen goods and a Children, Skills and Learning Bill will introduce an entitlement to an apprenticeship for all suitably-qualified young people.

Right to walk

The public will be given the right to walk round the entire English coast for the first time in a Marine and Coastal Access Bill which also introduces a marine planning system to cover all projects impacting on the seas around the coastline.

Constitution

The Government is continuing to work on a Constitutional Renewal Bill published in draft form in March, which is intended to give Parliament a vote on the ratification of treaties and place the civil service on a statutory footing. It will be introduced as a bill “when time allows”.

Political donations

A Political Parties and Elections Bill, which introduces greater transparency on political donations and strengthens the role of the Electoral Commission, has been carried over from the last session.