IT was all eyes on Westminster this week for the State Opening of Parliament. I will never lose the feeling of excitement as the streets are cleared of traffic, crowds gather and Parliament is spruced up, with some rather nice potted fuchsia standards placed strategically along the tent adjoining the Sovereign’s entrance.

Peers dust off their ermine and MPs find suitable but much less glamorous outfits; Dennis Skinner, the Beast of Bolsover practises his ritual gag in front of the mirror (he may think it entertaining, I think it disrespectful) and we all assemble on the green benches for the Black Rod summons to the Lords Chamber.

While her Majesty is addressing Parliament, a hostage – a Government Whip - is sent to Buckingham Palace to assure the safe return of the sovereign and I was tickled this year to see that the chosen person was brawny 6ft 5 inch former soldier Kris Hopkins, MP for Keighley and Ilkley, who is the MP probably most able to escape from the Palace if he wanted to. While Kris enjoyed a cup of tea the rest of us listened to the outline of the Government’s plans for the next session, presented against a welcome backdrop of improving life chances for all.

Highlights for me were the commitment to legislate for every household to have a legal right to a fast broadband connection, which will solve the problem of the “last five per cent” not connected under the current scheme and the requirement that all websites containing pornographic images will need age verification for access – something that I have campaigned for over many years.

A commitment to equalise the funding formula for schools will benefit our local pupils who have been relatively underfunded for years, while the Children and Social Work Bill will speed up adoption processes and improve support for children in the care system – both hugely welcome measures.

Measures to tackle extremism are very sensible, and there is a welcome commitment to radically improve prisons to rehabilitate offenders and break the cycle of reoffending.

A Modern Transport Bill from my department will encourage driverless cars and space port development in the UK – both areas in which we are developing world-class capabilities.

After all the excitement I headed home, to plan for a trip using a rather more traditional form of transport. This weekend I will be fulfilling a long-held dream to take a canal boat out on the Kennet and Avon, and so I am swotting up on lock technology and canal etiquette – a welcome break from the pomp and circumstance of the week.