At the centre of the speech, delivered by the Queen at next week's state opening of parliament, are expected to be public service reform and measures to combat anti-social behaviour.

The government's first full legislative programme since Mr Blair repeatedly declared his aim to "be bold" at his party's annual conference, criminal justice measures will have pride of place.

Ministers intend to implement proposals from the Auld report into the criminal justice system, and new sentencing initiatives.

Low-level social disorder tackled

The main provisions will be the introduction of new sentences - "custody-plus" and "custody-minus" - aimed at cutting the numbers in prisons while imposing penalties aimed at being more effective at preventing re-offending.

Mr Blair has also made clear his aim of tackling the kind of low-level social disorderliness typified by chewing gum and litter-strewn streets - an issue thought to be frequently raised in Labour's focus groups.

After many years of trailing, reform of the licensing laws is also set to be introduced, meeting a manifesto pledge to extend drinking hours.

The gamble is that this will lead to decrease in public disorder resulting from large numbers of people drinking to beat closing time.

Regional assemblies

Devolution, in the form of legislation introducing regional assemblies where support is proven, is expected to feature with several bills Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will take charge of.

Controversial media regulation legislation will be unveiled. The main measures of the Communications Bill have already been set out: a broadcasting super-regulator - Ofcom - will be created, and cross-media ownership rules may be relaxed, allowing "Americanisation" and further "Murdochisation" of British media, say critics.

Fox hunting, an issue which has dogged the government ever since its 1997 pledge to ban it, may once again feature. Alun Michael, the countryside minister, has yet to unveil any proposal on how to take the issue forward.

The lack of any mention in the speech will spark protests from anti-hunt MPs impatient for progress on the subject.

Leader of the Commons Robin Cook has confirmed that the euro would make an appearance in the speech - though he declined to give any pointers as to in what context, beyond that it would be "interesting".

The betting is however that the speech is likely simply to confirm that the government will, in the course of this new parliamentary session, conclude its assessment of the five economic tests for entering the single currency.