Queen's speech sets out CCS and flood proposals

The government will introduce measures to fund up to four carbon capture and storage (CCS) plants, improve flood defences, and provide better protection for Antarctica in the next year.

The measures were laid out in the Queen's speech this morning, which provides the legislative agenda for the year ahead.

An energy bill will include a £9.5bn levy on electricity bills over the next 10 years to fund the demonstration CCS coal power plants.

"Legislation will be brought forward to support carbon capture and storage and help more vulnerable households with energy bills," said Her Majesty.

There are two power stations left in the government's competition to fund a post-combustion CCS power plant to be operational by 2014. The money will allow the government to help fund the construction of a further three plants before 2016.

The Conservatives say they broadly support the government's energy plans and are unlikely to reform them should they win power in an election next summer, although some Labour MPs have claimed Tories want to scrap the CCS levy.

The bill is also expected to give regulator Ofgem more power to intervene to force down utility prices.

The flood and water management bill is designed to improve the UK's resilience to floods.

"Legislation will be introduced to protect communities from flooding and to ensure the security of water suppliers," said Her Majesty.

It is expected to implement the recommendations of Sir Michael Pitt's report following the 2007 floods, which called for better information in the event of flooding and would give local authorities the lead responsibility for managing the risk of future flooding.

The Antarctica bill will update the Antarctic Act 1994 and is part of an international effort to bolster protection for the region.

It will require UK Antarctic operators to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of environmental emergencies and will provide a framework for making visitors to the area pay to clean up any damage they do to the region.

The Queen also announced that the government would respond to a consultation on a high-speed rail link in the UK.

Critics doubt that many of the bills can be pushed through parliament before an election due next summer. Conservative peers have said they will slow legislation as much as possible in the House of Lords.