Party Conference 2009
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure hosted a series of well-attended receptions at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences during September and October.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure hosted a series of well-attended receptions at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences during September and October.
Entitled “Building a Low Carbon Economy”, the events saw many politicians come together with engineers, built environment professionals and industry associations to discuss the vital role of engineering in building a low carbon economy for the future. The Institution of Civil Engineers, ConstructionSkills and the Construction Industry Council supported the receptions.
Speaking at the reception at the Liberal Democrat conference, Shadow Chancellor Dr Vince Cable MP noted the various models for investment in infrastructure to strengthen the economy.
“We need a financing mechanism which can meet the investment needs of big long-term projects which will lie at the heart of a green economy: tidal power, high speed rail, carbon capture and storage, telecommunications infrastructure…
“What is needed is a British version of the European Investment Bank or Obama’s US Investment Bank which can bring together private capital and professional management under government sponsorship,” Dr Cable said.
David Kidney MP, Minister at the Department for Energy and Climate Change spoke at the reception at the Labour conference in Brighton about the importance of meeting carbon reduction targets.
”The UK has a responsibility to meet carbon reduction targets. This includes making new build homes zero carbon by 2016, building schools for the future against low carbon criteria. And in the future every job needs to be a green job.”
At the Conservative party conference in Manchester, Shadow Minister for Transport, Stephen Hammond MP and Peter Luff MP, Chair of the Business and Enterprise Committee both spoke at the event.
Mr Luff said: “Construction is a hugely important sector, making up eight or nine percent of the GDP… We must work together to talk up the role of civil engineering in the sector. Engineering skills are extremely important and it is vital we continue to invest in them.”