Honourable Members,
I am also resolved to make reforms to the General State Administration.
In the past legislative term we already started down this path, by approving the new Basic Statute for Civil Servants, the Agency Act, and an act regarding citizens' electronic access to the Public Administrations. However, we must go even further. I hereby announce my intention to revise the Government Act, the Act regarding the Organization and Functioning of the General State Administration, and the act that regulates the Public Administration and Common Administrative Procedures. The first two will enable us to adapt their structures to new realities, and the latter will be aimed at revising procedures in order to offer citizens the quickest and most valid response possible to their requests and claims.
Honourable Members,
The idea of Spain that I defend is that of a safe and secure country; a country where men and women can exercise their freedom protected by public security; a space in which citizens', pedestrians' and drivers' rights are safeguarded when faced with irresponsibility.
During its last term, the Government undertook to improve the safety and security of Spanish society. In that period, we increased the number of police and civil guard forces, and we are going to continue to increase it, to a total force of 140,000 nationwide. As a result, rates for the most serious crimes have decreased in Spain.
In line with this improvement in our security, the Government will propose a National Security Strategy, which we shall convey to this Chamber, to define objectives, indicate priorities, quantify resources, ensure collaboration, and plan organizational and budgetary efforts.
Our security project also encompasses protection against natural disasters and climate change. We are going to promote a new Civil Protection Act to channel solidarity amongst the different Public Administrations into effective and dynamic action, with all available means, in the face of emergencies. The Emergency Military Unit will be fully deployed, and will become integrated into the comprehensive civil protection system. In the Spain I wish for, Honourable Members, there is no room for disputes or in-fighting concerning responsibilities in the midst of an emergency.
If the Government has had a security concern over the last term, it has been putting an end to the enormous loss of lives on our roads. Our efforts have borne fruit, but these results are not satisfactory if a single life is lost. Changes in the Criminal Code and the new point-based driving licence have begun to have an impact. We shall continue working in this direction and pay special attention to the safety of motorcyclists, promoting the installation of safety guardrails on all roads. We also resolve to promote assistance for accident victims, and to do so, existing assistance offices will expand their responsibilities and offer comprehensive services.
The Spain we are working for, Honourable Members, will continue to curb this terrible loss that we are suffering weekly on our roads.