Queen's Speech: Tax Break For Low Wage Earners

People working 30 hours a week on minimum wage will no longer have to pay income tax under Conservative plans to be announced in the Queen's Speech.

The Queen will set out the Government's legislative plans for the next five years at the State Opening of Parliament later today.

It will be the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996, and is also expected to feature an EU Referendum Bill that will give Britons a vote on membership to Europe by 2017 .

The Queen will also announce a bill to curb illegal immigration and an extension of the Right to Buy scheme.

Controversial proposals to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a Bill of Rights are also expected to feature in the speech, although full legislation will not be introduced until next year.

The traditional address is spoken by the Queen, but written by Prime Minister David Cameron's team.

It takes place on the first day of a new parliamentary session or soon after a General Election.

Speaking ahead of the speech, Mr Cameron said: "This is the Queen's Speech for working people from a One Nation Government that will bring our country together.

"We have a mandate from the British people, a clear manifesto and the instruction to deliver. And we will not waste a single moment in getting on with the task.

"As part of our long-term plan to back working people and make work pay, the Government is determined to reward work by letting people keep even more of the money they earn."

In her address to Parliament, the Queen will confirm that legislation will be brought forward to ensure that future increases in the income tax personal allowance will reflect changes to the minimum wage.

This will mean that anyone working 30 hours a week on the minimum wage will pay no income tax.

Other plans to be laid out by the Queen include doubling the amount of free childcare, creating three million apprenticeships and introducing £8bn more funding for the NHS.

Devolution will be another key focus, with extra powers to English regions and the Scotland bill promising more devolution north of the border.

And a five-year "tax lock" will mean there will be no income tax, VAT or national insurance rises in this Parliament.

But despite Mr Cameron's claim that the Government is seeking to "bring our country together," acting Labour leader Harriet Harman says she fears the reality of the Tories' plans "will be very different from the rhetoric".

"The Queen's Speech will talk of a 'One Nation approach' - yet Cameron sets the nations of the country against each other," she said.

"The Queen's Speech will talk of helping 'working people' - yet Cameron threatens basic rights at work.

"The real question for this Queen's Speech will be whether it improves our country, our communities and people."

The pageantry begins with the Queen's procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster, escorted by the Household Cavalry.

She arrives at Sovereign's Entrance before leading the Royal Procession to the chamber of the House of Lords.

A senior official known as Black Rod is sent to summon the Commons, where the doors to the chamber are shut in his face - symbolising the Commons' independence from the monarchy.

Black Rod strikes the door three times before it is opened, and MPs then follow him to the Lords Chamber to listen to the speech.