· The 2019-2021 parliamentary session closes having accelerated the Government’s levelling up agenda.
· 44 new bills have been passed since December 2019, including the framework for the UK’s future outside of the EU, guaranteed record NHS funding, and tougher sentences for the most serious crimes.
· The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday 11th May, setting out the Government’s agenda for the next parliamentary session and new plans to build back better.
Henry Smith MP has welcomed the progress made by the Government since December 2019 in passing 44 new laws that have benefited people across Crawley.
Laws to protect our NHS, drive jobs and investment, and regain control over our trade and borders have been delivered by the Government, in a period which saw the UK face a global pandemic and become an independent nation outside the EU.
While taking action to save lives and livelihoods, the Government has continued to deliver on its manifesto commitments and passed laws to unite and level up the whole of the country.
Henry said;
“At the 2019 General Election I was elected by the people of Crawley to deliver on the people’s priorities – and that’s exactly what this Government has done.
“Since the election, we have delivered 44 new laws that will help to unite and level up the country – including enshrining our record NHS funding boost into law, toughening up sentences for the most serious offenders, and laws that will allow us to take advantage of the new opportunities we have as an independent free trading sovereign nation.”
This includes putting the record £33.9 billion funding commitment for NHS frontline services into law through the NHS Funding Act, guaranteeing the biggest cash boost in history for the years ahead – while the Medicines & Medical Devices Act has secured faster and safer access to innovative medicines for patients.
Following the UK’s departure from the EU and the end of the transition period, the Government has also delivered a number of laws so that the UK can take advantage of the opportunities ahead as an independent sovereign nation.
The Trade Act passed in this session has established the legal framework to help the UK strike new trade deals around the world, the Agriculture Act has freed British farmers from the unfair and bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy, the historic Immigration & Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act has allowed the UK to take back control of its borders, and the Fisheries Act allows the UK to decide who fishes in our waters and under what terms.
Tougher sentences for terrorists were introduced through the Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act, and the landmark Domestic Abuse Act will help tackle the devastating impact of domestic abuse – helping to protect the public, cut crime and make sure that the UK builds back safer from the pandemic.
In the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, the Government has also delivered laws to ensure that the right measures were in place to protect the health and safety of the nation and support lives and livelihoods.
This included protecting jobs through billions of pounds of financial support, providing affordable loans, business rates relief and increasing flexibilities in planning to help businesses provide for social distancing, as well as making sure that the NHS was able to provide care for all those in need.
A total of 44 Government Bills were passed during the session, and over 1,400 pieces of secondary legislation were also approved by Parliament, as well as a number of Private Members’ Bills.
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday 11th May, where Her Majesty’s Most Gracious Speech will set out the Government’s agenda for the next parliamentary session and new plans to build back better.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, commented;
“This Parliament has been witness to an extraordinary chapter in the UK’s history, spanning the new freedoms we’ve gained as a sovereign nation outside the EU to the impacts of a global pandemic.
“The changes we’ve delivered have allowed us to take rapid action to protect our country from coronavirus and will make our country stronger, fairer, safer and greener.
“But there is much more to do – and I will remain laser-focused on delivering the people’s priorities as we work to unite, level up and increase opportunity all across the UK.”
Notes
A full list of the 44 laws passed since December 2019:
1. European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act
2. Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act
3. Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Act
4. NHS Funding Act
5. Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act
6. Coronavirus Act
7. Contingencies Fund Act
8. Windrush Compensation Scheme (Expenditure) Act
9. Sentencing (Pre-consolidation Amendments) Act
10. Birmingham Commonwealth Games Act
11. Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act
12. Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act
13. Business and Planning Act
14. Finance Act
15. Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) Act
16. Stamp Duty Land Tax (Temporary Relief) Act
17. Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Act
18. Sentencing Act
19. Prisoners (Disclosure of Information) About Victims Act
20. Agriculture Act
21. Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act
22. Fisheries Act
23. Social Security (Uprating of Benefits) Act
24. Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act
25. Parliamentary Constituencies Act
26. United Kingdom Internal Market Act
27. Taxation (Post-Transition Period) Act
28. Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act
29. European Union (Future Relationship) Act
30. High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act
31. Pension Schemes Act
32. Medicines and Medical Devices Act
33. Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Act
34. Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act
35. Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act
36. Non-Domestic Rating (Lists) (No. 2) Act
37. Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Act
38. Domestic Abuse Act
39. Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Act
40. Trade Act
41. Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act
42. Fire Safety Act
43. Financial Services Act
44. National Security and Investment Act
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