Queen 's Speech highlights need for shorter term action - Chamber
Business leaders in Birmingham today called for shorter term action to reduce pressures and equip businesses with the confidence to strive forwards, following the Queen 's Speech.
Delivered by Prince Charles on behalf of the Queen, The Prince of Wales highlighted that Her Majesty 's Government would aim to “grow and strengthen the economy and ease the cost of living for families ”, whilst ensuring all corners of the country would have the opportunity to level up.
He also outlined 38 new Bills, including:
- A Bill to drive local growth and empower local leaders to regenerate their areas
- Legislation reforming the planning system to give local residents more involvement in developments in their area
- A Transport Bill to deliver safer, cleaner services and enable more innovation, as well as the modernisation of rail services to improve reliability for passengers
- An Energy Bill to deliver the transition to cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy
- Draft legislation to promote competition, strengthen consumer rights, and protect households and businesses
- Legislation to implement new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms
- Legislation to introduce reforms to education to raise standards and improve the quality of schools and Higher Education
- The establishment of the UK Infrastructure Bank in legislation to support economic growth and the delivery of net zero
- A Bill to enable European Union law to be more easily amended, and regulations on businesses to be repealed and reformed
- Legislation to simplify public sector procurement to provide opportunities for smaller businesses
- Legislation to strengthen financial services industry
- Reforms to the existing data protection regime
- Legislation to enable implementation of UK 's first new Free Trade Agreement since leaving the EU
- Legislation to unlock the potential of new technologies for sustainable farming and food production, to encourage agricultural and scientific innovation
- A Bill to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow
- Legislation to improve the regulation of social housing and strengthen the rights of tenants
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of GBCC, said: “The overall tone of the speech was both ambitious and aligned to many areas our members highlight as key local business priorities - growing the post-pandemic economy on core foundations of sustainability, investment in infrastructure, technology and skills.
“As with all of these things, ambitions are admirable but the devil is in the detail and, critically, delivery.
“Legislation takes time - and for good reason given its long-lasting implications. Alongside the legislative agenda, businesses need to see shorter term action to head off the looming cost of doing business crisis that is affecting key sectors. ”
Raj Kandola, head of policy and strategic relationships at GBCC, said: “While announced a while ago, we were pleased to see the non-domestic rating bill included in this year 's legislative agenda. The Chambers have been calling for substantial business rates reform for some time and the progress of this bill will represent a positive step forward.
“We were also pleased to see a commitment to further devolution and a reform of the procurement system to drive greater value for money and maximising opportunities for business.
“Additional commitments to creating a flexible lifelong loan that will help to retrain staff and allow businesses to access much need talent is also encouraging to see.
“Nevertheless, it remains to be seen the extent to which the Government will make the most of regulatory divergence from the EU to maximise opportunities in emerging technologies - especially in the field of sustainability.
“The Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill will also act as a vital lever in driving further devolution in the region and as a Chamber we look forward to working with the West Midlands Combined Authority to ensure the voice of local businesses sits at the heart of this important agenda. ”
Read more about how the new Bills will impact the business community