Chamber says Queen’s Speech offers some post-Covid reassurances

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.

Raj Kandola, head of policy at the GBCC, said: “Whilst many of the headlines from today’s 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.

Mr Kandola said the commitment to pressing ahead with the Environmental Bill was also welcome, but a number of questions remained over how businesses were expected to access the financial support they so desperately required 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," he said.