The 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review saw the Government set out infrastructure as one of the top four priorities for the national exchequer.
Alongside education, health care and national security, the Chancellor of Exchequer stated that in order to facilitate economic growth and competitiveness, the Government sought to minimise cuts and support targeted investment in projects where possible.
ICE has been working with Government and political parties over a long period to ensure that this case is heard in Westminster and Whitehall. Though the United Kingdom faces difficult and unparalleled economic circumstances, ICE is encouraged that the Government appears to be listening to the case for a long-term, strategic and sustainable approach to infrastructure delivery to support economic growth.
ICE Reaction
Given the scale of the budget deficit ICE expected that a number of infrastructure projects would face cutbacks in the Spending Review. At the same time, making the argument that economic growth depended on investment in infrastructure, ICE remained hopeful that Government would recognise the value of continued investment in our transport, energy, waste, flooding and water infrastructure.
ICE believes that Government has accepted this argument; the Comprehensive Spending Review demonstrates that – despite budgets reductions across almost all departments – the temptation to further reduce or compromise key projects which would deliver growth and drive the low carbon agenda have been avoided.
Read ICE's full response to the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review