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“This may not have been a high-profile Queen’s Speech”
The government set out its plans for the coming year in the Queen’s Speech, with the mantra that less (from the government) is more (for consumers).
Prime minister David Cameron penned a “radical and bold” speech for the head of state to read out in the Lords.
It included the Modern Transport Bill, designed to “ensure the UK is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles”.
Away from this, the Tories are set to hand over more planning powers to local communities – including giving them a greater input into whether renewable generation developments will get built.
The Better Markets Bill is designed to give competition in the energy and banking sector a much-needed boost by making it easier to switch – following on from the government’s desire to make 24 hours switching possible. The bill includes a statement that the Competition and Markets Authority’s remedies will be implemented in full, and gives the National Infrastructure Commission more authority.
Finally, the Wales Bill will devolve further powers, including those relating to energy, to the Welsh Assembly.
While this may not have been a high-profile Queen’s Speech, it has stuck to the Conservative philosophy of small government and the belief that competition and markets will deliver better, and cost-efficient, outcomes for the public. Time will tell how much of this agenda will be achieved and how much it will deliver.
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