Queen's Speech outlaws suicide web sites

Additional powers for Information Commissioner also on the agenda for new parliamentary year, but communications database plan is omitted

The Queen's Speech outlines forthcoming government bills

Web sites promoting suicide are to be subject to criminal prosecution in changes to UK law proposed in the Queen's Speech outlining the government's plans for the coming parliamentary year.

Other proposals include enhancing the power of Information Commissioner Richard Thomas to include the imposition of monetary penalties for "deliberate or reckless" loss of personal data.

The proposed Coroners and Justice Bill will make it clear that assisting suicide online is as much a crime as in person under the 1961 Suicide Act, amid growing concern over teenage copycat suicides and the prevalence of web sites that advise those in despair how to end their lives rather than offer counselling and help with their problems.

Downing Street guidance on the speech makes it clear that the motivation for strengthening the Office of the Information Commissioner is to "improve public confidence in the way that their data is held and used" rather than provide a punitive remedy for those aggrieved at abuse of their own information.

It will also "remove barriers to effective data sharing to support improved public services and the fight against crime and terrorism".

The proposals, including new powers to conduct unannounced raids on government or state agency offices to ensure that the Data Protection Act is being complied with, follow a parliamentary vote in favour of increasing Thomas's salary to £140,000 a year and a decision to change the funding arrangements for his office from a flat fee to a charge based on the size of the organisation concerned.

They are seen as recognition within the government at the damage being done by ongoing reports of data scandals to its ID card strategy, and the temporarily ditched proposal for a controversial database on email, internet use and mobile telephone call information.

As expected, plans for the Communications Data Bill were omitted from the Queen's Speech pending a consultation that will conclude next year.