Stuart Anderson MP has commended the measures announced in the Queen’s Speech during the State Opening of Parliament, which took place on Tuesday, the 10th of May 2022. Stuart has said that the measures set out will help to regenerate local areas and level up standards in education and employment.
The Queen’s Speech unveiled 38 new bills for the upcoming parliamentary session to continue delivering on the nation’s priorities, including easing the cost of living, growing the economy, cutting crime, supporting communities, and realising the benefits of Brexit. Stuart especially welcomed plans to give every child in the country a world-class education and the foundation they need to secure well-paid jobs. The Schools Bill will support schools to raise standards, strengthen attendance, and improve safeguarding for children wherever educated. A direct National Funding Formula will be introduced, so that every school is allocated funding on a fair and consistent basis, wherever it is in the country.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Bill will enable the introduction of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement - a loan equivalent to four years of education (£37,000 in today’s fees) that can be used over for a range of studies including shorter and technical courses. This could help people secure a promotion, or even better job. Stuart also welcomed reforms to ensure around 1.5 million low-paid workers are no longer subject to exclusivity clauses. He said that this will give workers greater flexibility over when and where they work to best suit their own circumstances such as childcare or study. This will also help to widen the talent pool of job applicants to those who may have been prevented from applying for roles.
Stuart also welcomed the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which will put an end to the scourge of boarded up shops that have blighted areas for far too long. It will give local leaders more powers to take derelict buildings for the benefit of the community and enable them to force landlords to rent out commercial properties so that they can be used again. In addition, Stuart has welcomed plans for a new Energy Security Bill, which will help to deliver a more secure and homegrown energy system that is more affordable and cleaner, cutting costs for families and delivering cheaper bills in the longer term.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I welcome the measures set out in the Queen’s Speech. They form an ambitious agenda for reform over the next year. The new laws will help to raise standards in our schools, enhance worker’s rights in employment, breathe new life into our high streets, restore civic pride in local areas, and ease the cost of living on local families – with our clear plan to greater energy self-sufficiency and cheaper bills in the longer term. Together, this provides strong leadership in challenging times to accelerate our recovery from COVID-19 and level up opportunities for everyone. I look forward to scrutinising the new laws in Parliament to ensure that they work for all of my constituents.”