This week marked the beginning of a new Parliamentary session, opened for the first time by Prince Charles delivering the Queen's Speech on behalf of Her Majesty, setting out the government's legislative agenda.

The end of a previous session always see some Bills fall, casualties of the lack of parliamentary time. My own Private Members Bill to stop sewage pollution last year suffered the same fate – though was later taken up by the government through the Environment Act. But a new session offers the chance to renew focus on pressing issues. 

First and foremost is the need to deliver economic growth, and the jobs, stability and wages that come with it. This includes using the freedoms afforded by Brexit to cut through red tape and repeal hundreds of pieces of EU law which were carried over onto our statute books when we left the EU. 

As a former Minister with responsibility for procurement in both Defence and Health departments, I shall take a particular interest in the new Procurement Bill which will allow public procurement to be more accessible for small businesses. I shall be pressing for a more deliberate opportunity for public bodies to buy British food, prevented under EU rules.

Also included within the Queen’s Speech were plans for a new Schools Bill, which will provide the legislation necessary for key education reforms. This includes enabling schools to join strong multi-academy trusts, establishing registers for children not in school, and giving greater powers to Ofsted where necessary. 

To restore local High Streets, the government will bring in a Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which will empower local leaders to invest in our High Streets, for example ensuring empty properties for over a year can be repurposed or rented out.

Sadly, events like the Salisbury poisonings and others show to counter threats in the modern world, we need to update our laws affecting foreign agents. So a new Counter-State Bill will reform of the Official Secrets Act to make it easier to prosecute and deport foreign agents.

Given my role as Chairman of the Environmental Audit Committee, which scrutinises the government’s performance on environmental issues, I shall be keeping a keen eye on legislation likely to impact the environment in this session. At this time of soaring energy costs, the Energy Bill will be particularly relevant, as it will facilitate low-carbon energy development and reduce our dependence on gas as set out in last month's Energy Security Strategy.