Her Majesty the Queen is here to tell you about driverless cars

LONDON -- Driverless cars and a proposal to bring high-speed broadband in every household were among the main social reforms that featured in a speech outlining the government's legislative program read out in Parliament by Queen Elizabeth II. 

Legislation to enable autonomous cars, already trialled in the UK, is set to be introduced by the government. The development will ensure that "appropriate insurance" is available for them. 

"Legislation will be introduced to improve Britain’s competitiveness and make the United Kingdom a world leader in the digital economy," the Queen read.

"My ministers will ensure the United Kingdom is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles."

It is estimated that the self-driving market is growing at 16% a year and could be worth up to £900 billion ($1.31 trillion) worldwide by 2025. 

Another key reform, which is part of the 21-Bill agenda, is a plan "to fast broadband connections for every household." 

Every household is to have a legal right to high-speed broadband under measures to make the UK a “world leader in the digital economy.”

Under the new broadband obligation included in the digital economy bill, the government expects a guaranteed initial minimum speed of at least 10Mbps. Ofcom will review it to ensure it is "still sufficient for modern life," PA reports. 

The government said that could benefit up to a million UK premises which might otherwise be left behind.

Other measures include the spreading the use of drones by businesses and individuals and the first commercial spaceport for the UK. 

Announcing David Cameron's programme from her throne in the House of Lords, the Queen said: "My government will use the opportunity of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people, to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and to strengthen national defences."

At the centrepiece of the Queen's Speech was the biggest shakeup of prisons in the UK "since Victorian times." 

Six institutions, including HMP Wandsworth, one of Europe's biggest jails, will feature in the programme that will give governors new powers over budgets and setting the daily regime. 

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