THIS week Neil Carmichael discusses some of the measures introduced by the new Conservative government...

With Parliament in recess for the summer, this is a good moment to outline some the key measures most relevant to the Stroud Valleys and Vale recently introduced by the new government. This is the first majority Conservative Government for nearly 20 years and, within less than 100 days, has set an ambitious agenda for reform, growth and modernity.

For families, huge steps have been taken. During the election, a recurring concern was the need for additional child care for working couples – the necessary legislation to provide 30 hours a week of free child care is already making progress through Parliament. As local employment continues to increase, this is excellent news for the Valleys and Vale.

Another issue cropping up during the election was the minimum wage. Step by step, it has already been increased over the last few years but the radical introduction of a new “living wage” with the promise of £9 per hour by 2020 transforms the earnings landscape. This is augmented, of course, with the ever increasing thresholds for income tax, meaning more and more of an individual’s hard-earned cash is safe from the taxman.

Our schools, too, are benefitting from reform and sensible public expenditure commitments. Coasting schools – no parent wants their children to be missing out on the opportunities good education can bring – are going to be identified and improved. A commitment of another £390 million top-up for the fairer funding of local authorities has been made; Gloucestershire will be a recipient of a significant boost in local funding.

In healthcare, the decision to increase overall NHS funding by £8 billion will help to protect local services. The most seismic reform will probably be the introduction of 24/7 access to doctors surgeries. This will give reassurance to elderly people and strengthen support for families. Across the Valleys and Vale, there are some excellent doctors’ surgeries so, already, we are well served.

We will also be safer at home and in the world. International politics is laden with risk so the government’s commitment to meet the two per cent of GDP on the defence expenditure target is welcomed.