MP for West Devon and Torridge, Geoffrey Cox, has welcomed the Queen’s Speech as the next step in delivering security for working people, increasing life chances for the most disadvantaged and strengthening our national security.

It is a One Nation Queen’s Speech that will improve lives across the country and contains measures that will progress in delivering the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitments, he said.

Mr Cox said since 2010, the Government had been working to do this and had given 31-million people a tax cut, seen 31.58-million people in work — up 2.5-million since 2010, over 2.6-million new apprenticeships started across England, 2.9-million workers were directly benefiting from the introduction of the National Living Wage and over 753,000 new homes had been provided.

The Queen’s Speech uses the opportunity of a strengthening economy to go further.

The speech includes measures that will give every household a legal right to a fast broadband connection if they request it, reform and speed up the planning process to help build more homes, introduce a Lifetime ISA to help young people save for their future, speed up adoptions and give children in care more support, make prisons places of education, work and purposeful activity to reduce re-offending, cut crime and improve public safety and prevent radicalisation, tackle extremism in all its forms and promote community integration.

Mr Cox said: ‘Over the past year, we have got on with delivering our manifesto commitments to give people security and opportunity at every stage of their life.

‘We’ve seen people’s taxes cut, wages boosted, more homes built and jobs and apprenticeships created. But I know there’s much more to do. This One Nation Queen’s Speech continues that work. New Bills will help people save money, buy a home, get fast broadband access — as well as tackle some of the deepest social problems in our country and strengthen our national security.

‘All of this will mean a better and brighter future for West Devon and Torridge.’