Today the government unveiled its infrastructure plans for the next two decades. We answer five questions on the announcements.
What is the big news from the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) announced today?
The most significant news includes the government selling off its 40 per cent stake in the Eurostar rail service, as reported by the BBC. What’s more, the insurance industry, which isn’t traditionally a big infrastructure investor, is to invest £25bn in infrastructure over the next five years.
The government has already announced a £10m guarantee for new energy efficient lighting systems across car parks in the UK.
It has said it will also open a £10m competitive fund in early 2014 to test innovative solutions to deliver superfast broadband services to the most difficult to reach areas of the UK.
Plus it will build on the Spending Round commitment of £2.3bn capital investment for flood defences by developing a new long-term plan, including naming key projects by Autumn Statement 2014.
How much is expected to be spent over all?
About £375bn of investment is expected to be spent on energy, transport, communications, and water projects.
What has the government said?
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, told the BBC: “The most important thing we’ve done as a government is create an environment in which people want to come in and invest in British infrastructure.”
But he admitted that the UK had “underinvested … over several decades”.
He added: “There are projects going on in every part of the country.”
Lord Deighton said today 45 per cent of the projects that have been announced by the government since 2010 are under construction, with lots already completed.
What have the experts said?
Mat Riley, Head of Infrastructure at EC Harris told the Telegraph:
“Today’s revised infrastructure spending programme is, again, strong on headlines, but unclear on delivery. The government is working hard to attract investors such as the insurance funds, but the UK still does not have the right policy environment for these funds to be put to good use and make a real difference, which is compounding the problem.”
“Who would want to take the risk and invest in a nation that cannot even put together a coherent Energy Policy without fear of ridicule? Regulation is largely ineffective, and the balance of power now sits with asset owners and their investors, which means only one outcome for the consumer, and that is higher costs. Politicians are in denial, the real issue is how much cost consumers are ultimately going to bear, and by when.”
What has the opposition said?
Chris Leslie, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, speaking to the BBC said: “With the country facing a cost-of-living crisis we need to invest in infrastructure to create jobs, boost living standards, and strengthen our economy for the long-term.”
He added that the government’s record on infrastructure had been “a complete failure”.
“The Office for National Statistics says that infrastructure work is down 3.7 per cent in the last year, and fell by 10 per cent in 2012.”
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