Mark has given a warm welcome to the Government programme outlined in the Queens Speech which promises new legislation to bring about a fairer society and a more stable economy. It also looks to the future with measures to boost new areas like green technology and guarantees of a training place or job for all young people looking for work.

Some of the key Government Bills will be on issues on which Mark has been campaigning strongly such as the

Energy Bill introducing

• mandatory social tariffs to help those on low income cut energy bills
• stronger powers for Ofgem to protect the consumer
• financial incentives for energy companies to develop carbon capture and storage

Financial Services Bill for much tougher regulation of the financial sector including

• powers for the regulator, the Financial Services Authority, to tear up contracts for excessive bonuses
• a ban on unsolicited credit card cheques, to prevent companies encouraging customers to borrow more than they can afford
• setting up a new impartial money advice service

In addition, to make sure young people looking for work don’t fall through the net there will be guarantees of

• a job or training for any 18 to 24-year-olds who are unemployed and help as soon as they register
• a place in education from January for any 16 to 17-year-olds out of work
• an internship or training for all new graduates who are still out of place after 6 months

Mark said:

“This is a radical programme proposing tough regulation of the financial sector and curbs on the power of energy companies.

"It aims to support ordinary people struggling with debts or energy bills and looks to the future in seeking to create a fairer society and boosting new areas of the economy like low carbon technology."
 
Mark has argued strongly for ambitious policies to develop new green technology like carbon capture and storage which as a result of the new measures will now be tested on a commercial scale. He has also campaigned very actively as well on the issue of fuel poverty, working closely with the North Edinburgh Fuel Poverty Action group.

There will be important new legislation as well banning the use of cluster munitions and binding Governments to spend at least 0.7% of national income on international aid.

To read full details of the speech click here

For information on how the proposals in the Queen Speech will affect Scotland in particular click here