Queen's Speech: Cutting red tape and fairer deals for supermarket suppliers on the agenda

Slashing the regulatory barriers faced by businesses and ensuring small supermarket suppliers are treated fairly were among the measures outlined in today's Queen's Speech.

Amid the usual pomp and ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament, the Queen revealed the Bills the government intends to introduce over the next year.

Of key interest to small businesses is the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill which aims to:

• Overhaul the employment tribunal system, and transform the dispute resolution landscape
• Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of competition enforcement and the competitiveness of markets, by strengthening the regime and improving the speed and predictability for business.
• Set the purpose of the UK Green Investment Bank and ensure its independence
• Strengthen the framework for setting directors’ pay by introducing binding votes
• Extend the Primary Authority scheme, reduce inspection burdens on business and strengthen the legal framework for sunset clauses on regulation
• Repeal unnecessary legislation, cutting the burden on business and citizens.

Also announced was the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill which will address the market dominance of the large retailers and ensure suppliers are treated fairly and lawfully by introduced a new adjudicator.

The adjudicator would arbitrate disputes between retailers and suppliers, investigate anonymous complaints, and taking sanctions against retailers who break the rules.

The Queen also said the government intends to make parental leave more flexible "so both parents may share parenting responsibilities and balance work and family commitments".