Business leaders have raised concerns that the Treasury will have too much control over the work of the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).
Top business lobby the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) called for the Commission to have more autonomy and 'stronger teeth' to ‘focus on long-term planning to tackle the challenges Britain will face in coming decades’.
In a new report, Plotting the Course, the CBI outlined eight key areas the NIC should prioritise, including ‘devising creative solutions to meet the future growing demand on the UK’s roads, rails and ports’.
The Treasury accused of having too much control over NIC
The report cites Crossrail, £15bn of planned investment in the Strategic Road Network, and Heathrow Terminal 5 as demonstrating ‘the UK’s appetite for construction of the infrastructure we need to prosper’.
But it says ‘all too often, political pressures and procrastination prevents the UK from grappling with the thorny issues at hand’.
Speaking to Transport Network, Marcus Corry, the report’s author, said the CBI was 'really pleased' with plans for the NIC to produce an overall National Infrastructure Assessement but felt that the terms of reference of specific studies 'could be quite limiting'.
The CBI woud like statutory timeframes for the Government to respond to the recommendations of such studies, he said.
Referring to the Treasury's proposals for the operation of the NIC, Mr Corry told Transport Network: 'We want to see a commission that is much more autonomous, much more independent’ .
The CBI said the need for increased capacity is the top rail priority for 90% of businesses and that modern technology such as digitalisation, electrification and high-speed technology should be used creatively to meet future demand. On roads, it argued that a long-term solution is needed to fund upgrades and maintenance to the country’s road network.
It also said that connectivity at the UK’s ports and airports is a key issue for exporters: ‘Increasing accessibility to emerging markets with more direct routes, and integrating the country’s rail and road network with national gateways at the planning stage will give a real boost to British exports and lead to greater trade with global partners.’
Rhian Kelly, CBI business environment director, said: ‘The National Infrastructure Commission gives the UK the perfect opportunity to carefully and strategically plot the course of its long-term infrastructure needs.
‘For this to happen though, it’s vital the Commission is not blown off course by politics. This independent body must be given strong teeth by politicians so that it can recommend significant infrastructure decisions, like building a new runway in the South East, are made for the future benefit of all.’
Transport Network approached the Treasury for comment.
