UK politicians draw on ICE polls in road pricing debate

UK politicians draw on ICE polls in road pricing debate

UK Members of Parliament debated road pricing and the need to future-proof the country’s road networks in a Westminster Hall debate.

ICE was referenced by two MPs during the debate. Our policy paper on pay-as-you-go roads and how to achieve sustainable roads funding in England helped frame MPs’ opinions.

What did they say?

Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport and Business, and Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “Polling undertaken by YouGov for the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2019 suggested that a pay-as-you-go model of road pricing has popular support—47% of British adults stated that they would support a pay-as-you-go model if it replaced both vehicle excise duty and fuel duty, and just 23% opposed.”

Gavin Newlands MP, SNP Spokesperson for transport, agreed with Sarah’s remarks, commenting: “Sarah Olney said that the case for change was pressing, if we are to maintain taxation levels and reduce road transport’s carbon footprint."

“Members will hear from my speech that that is something I wholeheartedly agree with. She also referenced the report by the Institution of Civil Engineers, which means I do not have to; for the purposes of time, I am grateful for that.”

When

Westminster Hall Debate on smart road pricing, 09 March 2022.

BEIS Select Committee backs ICE's call backs ICE’s call, plus APPGI welcomes Rishi Sunak.

A new report from the UK Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee on the UK government’s (Draft) Energy National Policy Statement (NPS) has backed the ICE’s call for a single, overarching NPS for all economic infrastructure sectors.

This was following the ICE giving evidence to the committee on this inquiry at the end of last year, and the ongoing support that ICE calls have received from UK politicians.

The ICE first mooted these recommendations on how to improve strategic infrastructure planning in July last year, and our progress on securing political support for them was outlined in our last update.

Meanwhile, at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Infrastructure (APPGI)'s first in-person event since the pandemic started, policymakers and industry leaders came together at ICE HQ, One Great George Street. The drinks reception focused on what 2022 holds for infrastructure.

Keynote speakers included Rishi Sunak, APPGI chair Andrew Jones MP, and the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, Sir John Armitt.

What did they say?

The UK BEIS Select Committee report referenced the ICE a number of times.

It directly met its calls by recommending that: “the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy work with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to consider the potential merits of implementing a single National Policy Statement across sectors with sub-sector statements linked to different technology developments.”

ICE’s press comment was also reported in the Financial Times.

At the APPGI reception, Rishi Sunak laid out the UK government’s ambition for infrastructure in 2022, commenting: "I believe we in government are now delivering an infrastructure revolution in the 21st century."

"We are investing over this Parliament, the most public sector investment of over £600 billion. Net investment will reach its highest sustained levels, as a proportion of GDP, in over half a century."

When

BEIS Select Committee report on Revised (Draft) National Policy Statement for Energy, 25 February; APPGI reception, 23 February.

UK politicians show support for ICE policy calls on active travel and energy

What did they say?

Trudy Harrison referenced ICE's policy insights in a written answer about what should be in the second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy for England (CWIS2).

Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Transport, and International Trade, drew on ICE’s recent policy paper when asking the UK government about what will be in CWIS2 this April.

In her response, Trudy Harrison referenced having held “constructive discussions with the Institution of Civil Engineers in the autumn of 2021 as part of the process of developing CWIS2.”

Meanwhile, Christopher Pincher agreed with ICE calls for Energy National Policy Statements to interconnect effectively in a select committee.

In an oral evidence session on Energy National Policy Statements (NPSs), Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi asked: “The energy NPS is one part of the planning process for future energy infrastructure. The Institution of Civil Engineers has told us that the NPS should not be expected to do all the heavy lifting on its own.

"How well do the revised NPSs fit in with the other aspects of the planning system?”

The minister replied in support of ICE’s calls: "If the Institution of Civil Engineers meant the energy NPS, then it is absolutely right, because we need to make sure that the NPSs interconnect effectively.

"There are other important NPSs that may have a bearing on energy infrastructure,such as transport and wastewater. Defra’s NPSs may be another example.

"We want to make sure that we are achieving more effective and efficient consistency across the NPS landscape, so in that context the institute is absolutely right."

When

Written Parliamentary Question, 27 January; UK BEIS Select Committee oral evidence session on Energy NPSs, 18 January.

Infrastructure Australia shares best practice for delivering infrastructure

What did they say?

Infrastructure Australia presented its Deliverability Roadmap for best practice to senior stakeholders from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Middle East at a global roundtable discussion about improving the delivery of infrastructure around the world.

Attendees shared the challenges they are facing and the international lessons that can be learned when it comes to future strategic planning.

When

ICE Presidential Breakfast, 19 January 2022