ITS UK Chief Executive Max Sugarman has praised the King’s Speech for its much-needed focus on transport.

“Today’s King’s Speech placed transport and technology at the heart of the Government’s legislative agenda, setting out measures for the reform of the bus and rail network, and for the establishment of more digital and smart data services,” says Sugarman.

“In particular, the transport technology sector will welcome the focus on smart ticketing within the proposed Railways Bill, the opportunities for greater integration between modes that the planned rail and bus legislation offers, and the benefits that can be delivered from the Smart Data Bill, such as by creating an ‘open banking’ approach to transport services. All of these policies we called for in our Future of Transport Manifesto, so it’s fantastic to see progress so quickly into the new Parliamentary term.

“One item that was absent from the Speech was a Micromobility Bill, to set out a permanent regulatory footing for e-scooters. We would urge the Government to work with the sector to show how it wishes to proceed, in order to give providers certainty for the future.”

“On behalf of the transport technology industry, we look forward to working with the Government on the Bills set out and its wider mission-driven agenda.”

The full transcript of the speech can be found here.