The Queen’s Speech yesterday confirmed the Government’s plans to ‘level up’ across the country, with investment in infrastructure central to this.

Her Majesty the Queen said: “My Government will strengthen the economic ties across the union, investing in and improving the national infrastructure. ‘Proposals will be taken forward to transform connectivity by rail and bus and to extend 5G mobile coverage and gigabit-capable broadband.”

Making reference to the Environment Bill, she also said: “My Government will invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting the environment. The United Kingdom is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and will continue to lead the way internationally by hosting the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Legislation will set binding environmental targets.”

The Environment Bill, was first introduced in the House of Commons in January 2020, and has sinced been delayed three times because of teh pandemic. The bill includes various environmental protection measures, these include the establishment of new environmental principles and legally binding environmental targets following the UK’s departure from the EU, as well as the creation of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).