Queen 's Speech offers some post-Covid reassurances - Chamber

The Queen 's Speech offered reassurances about the Government 's intention to drive an economic recovery from Covid-19, business leaders said.

However, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is now calling on Government to provide details on how these priorities will be delivered.

Among the priorities set out in the speech were new legislation to support skills, planning reform and proposals to transform rail and bus connectivity.

Included in the 30 bills announced by the Queen were:

• Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill: Legislation to establish a new Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) to promote 'high-risk, high reward ' research.
• High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill: which authorises the next phase of HS2 and proposals will be taken forward to transform connectivity by rail and bus.
• Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill: Aimed at extending 5G mobile coverage and gigabit broadband.
• Skills and Post-16 Education Bill: Includes the Lifetime skills guarantee to provide access to training throughout people 's lives.
• Subsidy Control Bill: Confirmation of a Post-Brexit regime for state aid. The bill sets out post-Brexit regulations on how the government can support private companies, now the UK has left the EU's state aid regime.
• Procurement Bill: Aimed at simplifying procurement in the public sector, replacing EU rules on how the government buys services from the private sector.
• Planning Bill: Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill: Enhanced rights for renters, modernisation of the planning system so that 'more homes can be built ', end the practice of ground rents for new leasehold properties.
• Environment Bill: Sets binding environmental targets post-Brexit.
• Immigration Legislation: To establish 'a fairer ' immigration system.
• National Insurance Contributions Bill: Includes tax breaks for employers based in eight freeports to be set up in England later this year.

Raj Kandola (pictured), head of policy at the GBCC, said: “Whilst many of the headlines from the session have been trailed heavily for a number of months, the Queen 's Speech offered both reassurances around the Government 's intention to drive an economic recovery post Covid-19 but also a number of persistent questions on how this will actually be delivered.

“A fundamental pillar of realising the PM 's levelling up agenda rests upon connecting people to opportunities and it was pleasing to see the Government reaffirm it 's commitment to lifelong learning and retraining, pushing ahead with HS2, improving access to digital infrastructure along with greater investment in bus and rail networks.

“As long term signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, we were delighted to see it enshrined in law as we 've witnessed first hand the important role the Armed Forces play in the region.

“The commitment to pressing ahead with the Environmental Bill was also welcome. However, a number of questions remain over how businesses are expected to access the financial support they so desperately require in order to embark on their own net zero journey.

“The importance of eight new Freeports in driving regeneration has been much heralded yet there 's seems to have been scant reference around how the Government intends to support the wider aviation industry and airports in particular to get back on their feet - especially given the contribution that the likes of Birmingham Airport make to both jobs and GVA across the region as a whole.

“As we set out in our Keep Business Moving Report, businesses are still facing crippling cost pressures, large overheads, uncertainty over long term restrictions and unmanageable debts - it 's vital the Government tackles these issues as matter of urgency otherwise thousands of businesses face going to the wall over the next few months.

“As always, the Chamber will be on hand to offer guidance to our members on what the Queen 's Speech means for their business and advice on how firms can access financial support as we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel - full details can be found on our website. ”

Read our detailed blog post on the Queen 's Speech here.

Download our Keep Business Moving report here.