Rishi Sunak laid out the UK government’s ambition for infrastructure in 2022 at the APPGI reception.
at happened
In Westminster...
Who | Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, pictured below left; and Darren Jones, BEIS Select Committee chair, pictured below right.
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.
From the last 3 months
UK politicians show support for ICE policy calls on active travel and energy
Who | Trudy Harrison MP, UK Transport Minister, pictured below left; and Rt Hon Christopher Pincher, UK Housing Minister, pictured below right.
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
Who | Romilly Madew, CEO at Infrastructure Australia
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
- How ICE engaged with the UK government's infrastructure policies in the previous quarter.