10 Things to Tell Your MP to Capture in the King’s Speech 2024

Date posted: 10th July 2024

The King’s Speech on Wednesday 17 July 2024 will set out the new Government’s agenda for the year ahead. It is an important opportunity to announce their priorities and new legislation they plan to introduce.

As part of our campaigning in the run up to the General Election, Thomas Pocklington Trust promoted 10 Parliamentary Bills that we want to see introduced. We hope to see some of these in the King’s Speech or introduced by MPs in this Parliament.

You can help us to get our message across and change the world of blind and partially sighted people for the better by writing to your new MP using our simple e-action.

Here is what we want to see introduced in this Parliament:

1. The Right to Site Bill: This would mandate that all public services, both online and offline, adhere to strict accessibility standards, ensuring blind and partially sighted people can navigate and utilise them with ease.
2. The Employment Equality (Vision Impairment) Bill: Offers financial incentives to businesses that recruit visually impaired individuals, promoting workplace diversity and equal employment opportunities of blind and partially sighted people.
3. The Education Inclusion (Sight Loss) Bill: Guarantees that all children and young people with vision impairment aged 0-25 have access to an inclusive education, including access to the 11 defined learning needs, as set out in the Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment.
4. The Sight Loss Healthcare Access Bill: Ensures that individuals with sight loss receive specialised healthcare and support services, including mental health services tailored to their unique needs.
5. The Public Transport Accessibility (Sight Loss) Bill: Aims to make public transportation systems more accessible through audible announcements and tactile feedback systems, enhancing travel independence of blind and partially sighted people.
6. The Vision Impairment Awareness Promotion Bill: Funds campaigns to educate the public about the challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people, fostering a more inclusive and understanding society.
7. The Assistive Technology Advancement Bill: Encourages the development and adoption of assistive technologies, making navigating daily life of blind and partially sighted people more independent.
8. The Community Support (Vision Impairment) Bill: Strengthens community support programmes, providing practical assistance and social opportunities to blind and partially sighted individuals.
9. The Anti-Discrimination (Sight Loss) Bill: Bolsters legal protections to prevent discrimination against blind and partially sighted people, ensuring fair treatment in all areas of life.
10. The National Eye Health Strategy Bill: Establishes a comprehensive strategy integrating the needs of blind and partially sighted people into all areas of policymaking.