Unsurprisingly, the media’s focus over the last quarter has been on the Government’s comprehensive spending review (CSR), with daily media speculation on the depth of the cuts and which areas are in the firing line. Alongside that are pleas from bodies and organisations right across the UK making their case for immunity or at least a ‘fair hearing’ in the review.
At ICE, during this time, we have tried to position ourselves in the eyes of the media and Government, as an organisation that is realistic about the public spending cuts and have offered ourselves as a source of advice to the Government to help in prioritising. Nevertheless ICE’s role is to ensure that Government recognises the role infrastructure will play in the UK’s economic recovery and in achieving our low carbon goals. Therefore in our media work, we have been expressing the need for the CSR decisions to reflect this.
Our State of the Nation: Infrastructure 2010 report published earlier this year – which provides an assessment of the state of the UK’s infrastructure networks and the implications of significant cuts to investment in these networks – has given us a solid platform in making the case for careful decisions on infrastructure cuts but also, importantly, has provided Government with a tool to aid their decision making.
Aside from the CSR, in July, ICE published Rethinking Aviation – a report that urged Government to think carefully about the UK’s long-term airport infrastructure needs. ICE agrees the green agenda must be a priority, and we realise that when it comes to airport infrastructure there are some tough choices. But we believe there are choices that can secure the best outcomes for the environment, society and the economy. The report received attention from a range of media, with over 5million ‘opportunities to see’.
Our ongoing energy campaign – to ensure we have a sustainable and secure energy supply for the future - has also continued to gain momentum in the media throughout this quarter, with the Daily Telegraph leading with our calls in a feature on the state of the UK energy sector and ICE being involved in high profile media debates about the progression of wind energy and nuclear new build - these efforts will continue.
Download the Quarter 3 2010 report now