The State Opening of Parliament this week was of course the parliamentary highlight, but sad to see the Queen sat alone again. However, she did outline to us a busy legislative programme, with Bills on on-line safety, immigration, the lifetime skills guarantee and early years. I was pleased to see a commitment to a full legislative ban on conversion therapy, and credit where it is due, I believe Liz Truss really listened when I told her from the perspective of the Equalities Select Committee that it was an imperative to do so.
I was however disappointed that there was no mention of an Employment Bill. We have to learn lessons from the pandemic and a bill to enshrine flexible working as a day one right would have been a great signal from the Government that it is really committed to change in the way we work. The focus has to be on productivity not presenteeism, and of course in many ways working from home can be beneficial from a personal and environmental perspective. It is certainly a great way to seize back lost travel time and to reduce the number of cars on the road.
Undoubtedly the commitments on animal welfare and puppy smuggling will be popular. I also want to see them beefed up into a really ferocious crack down on puppy farming which is an abhorrent activity, inflicting misery on dogs. I know Luna and Alfie will be right behind me in that, both of them having been born into loving families here in the Test Valley before they made their way into my life.
I am looking forward to speaking at Embley Park this week, by zoom, for years 9-13. That sounds potentially like quite a lot of students and a big age range, so I am hopeful for some interesting questions.
Of course it would be remiss not to congratulate all those elected in last week’s local elections, and to say how sorry I am that again this year there cannot be a Mayor Making, which would traditionally happen about now. But I am sure Cllr Cooper is looking forward to being the Borough’s first citizen and of course I would like to thank Cllr Martin Hatley and Jo for their sterling 2 year stint as Mayor and Mayoress at a very challenging time.
