The government has unveiled a Queen's Speech which looks to step up public service reform and the fight against crime.

With Labour's majority cut to 67, Charles Clarke and David Blunkett have sought to reassure backbenchers that they will listen to their concerns as potentially controversial legislation is pushed through the Commons.

The government's programme contains 45 proposed laws and five draft bills, including plans to introduce identity cards and reform the benefits system.

Although the prime minister told MPs that he was adopting a "quintessentially New Labour" programme, the home secretary said later that he would not "ride roughshod" over MPs as he prepared to table plans for the introduction of identity cards.

"We will listen carefully to any comments, objections, or proposals from MPs of all parties, including my own," Clarke said.

Blunkett also struck a conciliatory note as  proposals for the reform of incapacity benefit were unveiled.

"Don't believe for a minute that the reform of the welfare state for the 21st century is somehow punitive," Blunkett said.

"It is not. It is about - 50 years on - taking a real look at what people want."

Ministers are reasonably confident over the identity cards legislation because it was a manifesto commitment that was approved by every one of Labour's policy-making bodies.

But pension reform and continued marketisation of the health and education services are also potential flashpoints.

Ministers want to see care home and National Health Service managers made liable for importing hospital-acquired infections, or the failure to control them.

The NHS Confederation, representing health organisations, warned that "pinning blame on one individual would be virtually impossible".

In education, the government is proposing to allow parents, faith groups and possibly private sector providers to set up schools while giving primaries more financial freedom and allowing Ofsted to close failing schools.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "There is no need for this bill."