This past week saw the State Opening of Parliament, which on this occasion saw the Duke of Cornwall for the first time deliver the Queen’s Speech, as Her Majesty the Queen was unable to do so due to mobility issues.
The Queen’s Speech is the
time that the Government looks ahead to what it wants to deliver in the coming
session of Parliament. It is not a Budget or Spending Review, but instead
focuses on the long-term aspirations and big changes the Government wishes to
bring about.
In last week’s column I
touched on one of the elements of the Queen’s Speech that was previewed last
weekend, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which looks to allow local
authorities like Cornwall Council more devolved powers, and critically for us,
those to apply more tax on second homes.
But the Queen’s Speech was
much more than that and sets out our Government’s
legislative agenda to grow and strengthen the economy and help ease the cost of
living for families across the UK. 38 new Bills will go through Parliament,
allowing us to take advantage of Brexit freedoms to best grow the economy and
support British business – creating the economic strength and prosperity needed
to ease cost of living pressures and help people into high-skilled and
well-paid jobs.
Measures set out to help
grow the economy and boost living standards include the landmark Levelling Up
and Regeneration Bill, shifting power to local leaders to regenerate their
towns and cities; the Energy Security Bill, delivering a more secure, homegrown
and cheaper energy network; the Social Housing Regulation Bill, ensuring better
quality homes meaning renters are not saddled with the cost and worry of unsafe
homes; and the Schools Bill, raising standards for students, reforming funding
and encouraging attendance.
This legislative agenda
also builds on the ourGovernment’s commitment to fund our NHS and clear the
Covid backlogs – investing a record £36 billion and recruiting an additional
27,000 nurses to provide the NHS with the funding and resources it needs.
“This
was an ambitious Queen’s Speech, including a raft of new measures to tackle the
cost of living, make our streets safer and build an affordable, secure energy
supply.
I was
particularly pleased this plan includes action tackle the most pressing issues
in Truro and Falmouth head on. This includes addressing our urgent housing
crisis and ensuring we level up coastal communities through investment in
schools, green energy, and local infrastructure.
I look
forward to working closely with the Government to ensure these 38 new Bills
deliver a brighter future for Truro and Falmouth.
Obviously
the cost of living crisis remains high on the agenda. While a Queen’s Speech is
not the time to announce more short term assistance to help tackle this, I am
in regular discussions with colleagues, feeding back everything I am told from
Cornwall, and am assured that the Government will continue to keep this
difficult situation under review and announce further support as and when
needed.
Finally,
congratulations must go to Cornwall Council who are one of the first local
authorities in the country to pay virtually all of their council tax energy
bill rebates to those paying by direct debit, while some authorities elsewhere
in the country won’t get around to it until September. If you haven’t been paid
yours, Cornwall Council have advised me that they will get in touch, in
writing, to get the details they need to make the payment as soon as possible.
As ever, if you need my assistance with anything
then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at
Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My
regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at
my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any
matters that I can be of assistance with.
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