Last week’s Queen’s Speech was a chance for the Government to set out its agenda for this parliamentary session.
Among the Government’s priorities are measures to drive economic growth, improve health and social care, and encourage research and development.
Below are just a few of the measures that will affect residents of Totnes and South Devon.
Rail and Bus Reform
Rail and bus networks will be reformed to deliver services which are better, greener, more reliable and easier to use. This will include a Rail White Paper containing proposals that will transform the railways and deliver for passengers, making rail more accessible and inclusive.
Since being elected, connectivity has been one of my focus areas so I look forward to seeing how the Rail and Bus Reform will enable residents of Totnes and South Devon to travel across the area more easily.
Skills and Post-16 Education Bill
Legislation will support a lifetime skills guarantee, enabling people to access flexible funding for higher education and training. This ensures that people can train and retrain at any stage in their lives, supporting them to move into higher-skilled jobs and equipping the workforce with the skills employers need. The Bill will enable Further Education colleges like South Devon College to be able to help people in every age group, offering them the opportunity to innovate and create business.
Environment Bill
The Government will invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting the environment. Legislation will set binding environmental targets, and the environment will be put at the centre of policy making. The United Kingdom is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will continue to lead the way internationally by hosting the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Measures will be introduced to revolutionise how we recycle; enhance local powers to tackle sources of air pollution; secure long-term, resilient water supplies and wastewater services; and protect nature and improve biodiversity.
Planning Bill
The new Planning Bill states that it aims to create a simpler, faster and more modern planning system ensuring homes and infrastructure can be delivered more quickly across England.
I am currently heavily against this Bill. Sustainable development and access to affordable housing are extremely important issues for residents of Totnes and South Devon. We must listen to what communities want, which means following neighbourhood plans, building on brownfield sites, protecting our green spaces and building in an environmentally friendly way.
I look forward to helping to reform the Planning Bill to ensure it delivers for the residents of Totnes and South Devon.
Watch The Queen’s Speech in full here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c40ae785-6adf-460b-b292-f373fca3f397?in=11:35:22&out=11:44:30