The government has cut back its legislative plans for the coming year with just 13 new Bills announced in the Queens speech.

Victims of the prime minister’s decision to focus on measures that will help the economy during the downturn include the Communications Data Bill.

The controversial legislation would have allowed changes to the way the government holds data on telephone calls and emails but has now been put on hold.

A Constitutional Renewal Bill will also only be introduced “when time allows”, the Queen told Parliament on Wednesday, although a Political Parties and Elections Bill promises to address political donations and strengthen the role of the Electoral Commission.

Given more prominence was a Banking Bill, which is set to tackle the financial stability of banks and protection for consumers.

Reading out the government’s intentions, the Queen said ministers’ “overriding priority” would be “to ensure the stability of the British economy through the global economic downturn”.

The Welfare Reform Bill, with new requirements for disabled people and single parents to seek work, remains intact despite campaigners warning that reform risked pushing people into poverty at a time of rising unemployment.

The legislative programme also promise powers for local councils to stimulate their local economies, to ease cash flow and contract systems for the construction sector, and reduce citizenship chances for migrants who fail to integrate into British society.

A Health Bill is set to establish a new constitution for the NHS, while a Child Poverty Bill will enshrine the government’s 2020 target to end child poverty, and separate legislation will place directly elected representatives on police authorities.

The Equality Bill has also survived, as have plans to encourage personal saving, tougher powers for schools dealing with bad behaviour, and public access rights in new coastal access rules.