In Westminster this week we saw the State Opening of Parliament, which marks the start of the parliamentary year.
While sadly the Queen was unable to attend, Prince Charles and Prince William attended in her place. I send my best wishes to Her Majesty this Jubilee Platinum Year, on behalf of all in Sevenoaks, and I hope she can play a central role in this summer’s celebrations.
The ceremony began with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Prince Charles then delivered the Queen’s Speech in the House of Lords, which set out the government's agenda for the year ahead.
For the first time, I was this year privileged to have a seat in the House of Lords Gallery and was pleased to hear his Royal Highness set out the 38 Bills which will help boost economic growth, cut crime, support communities, and clear the Covid backlogs.
For us locally, amongst the most pertinent included:
- The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, will see the planning system reformed to give residents more involvement in local developments - and hopefully mean here in Sevenoaks we can continue to protect our much-loved Green Belt from over development.
- The Schools Bill will build on the work I have been doing locally to provide more school choice and offer better facilities, by delivering a stronger and more highly performing school system that benefits every child.
- The Energy Security Bill will deliver a more secure and home-grown energy system that is more affordable and cleaner, while also cutting costs for families. Something that I know is of huge concern to us all.
- The Financial Services and Markets Bill will ensure consumers have a legal right to withdraw and deposit cash within "a reasonable distance" of their home - something I know some have struggled with locally following the closure of local bank branches.
- The Public Order Bill will give the police new powers to deal with highly disruptive protests
- And finally, the Mental Health Act Reform Bill which make sure the Mental Health Act works better for people by modernising services and ensuring a more personalised level of care.
Things that happen in Parliament can seem obscure, but I hope this helps explain what has happened this week, and the relevance for us here in Sevenoaks.
