Last week in the chamber we had the traditional occasion of the Queen's Speech ceremony.

It is a uniquely British event where the Queen reads out the Government's legislation for the session ahead and a lot of people put on their poshest clothes.  It is a time for traditions that date back hundreds of years. Beneath all the pomp and ceremony is the serious business of the Government setting out the plans for the coming year.

For myself and for the Government, the priorities for Britain are education, the NHS, security, affordable housing, a better balance between work and family life, and a strong economy. I was pleased to see these ideas at the root of the Queen’s Speech.

So what does this mean in practice, for people living in Stoke-on-Trent North? New Bills have been announced which will address the problems that I hear in my surgeries. For example, legislation will extend the right to flexible working, helping thousands of parents who juggle family and work life.

The Education & Skills Bill will give every young person a chance to stay on in education, training or work-based training until the age of 18. I am making education a real priority in this constituency and I hope that the measures set out in the Bill will help young people to make the most of their talents and skills.

At the same time, The Children and Young People Bill will bring in changes to improve services for vulnerable children; and improve youth and community facilities.  I think that this is an important apect to tackling the anticsocial behaviour that constituents have raised, as well as involving young people in our communities to a greater extent.

One of the most common issues that constituents have contacted me on is climate change.  I think that it is the single biggest issue facing this constituency, and I have pushed hard for the Climate Change Bill.  This will make the changes needed to protect the environment by making the UK the first country to set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

At the same time, the Counter-Terrorism Bill will ensure that the police have the powers they need to protect the public against terrorism, whilst preserving essential rights and liberties. The Housing and Regeneration Bill will help put affordable housing within the reach of the many and not just the few. And the Health and Social Care Bill will make changes so that the NHS meets the individual needs of patients.

So it’s going to be a busy year and I’ll be speaking up for the constituency as each of these Bills go through Parliament.  If you have any thoughts or comments and live in Stoke-on-Trent North, then please be in touch.