Party Conference 2010 - Report
The All Party Group took hosted a series of well-attended receptions at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers; Association for Consultancy and Engineering; Construction Products Associations and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association.
The All Party Group was represented at each of the three main party conferences with a reception was based around the theme of Infrastructure for Growth; which promoted the joint views of the organisations involved to Government ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Representatives ensured that politicians heard the point that, unless infrastructure projects can be properly planned and delivered, and essential skills maintained and developed, the UK's economic recovery could be jeopordised and emissions targets missed.
Supporting the reception was the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), the Construction Products Association and CITB-ConstructionSkills. This joint-approach delivered the largest infrastructure-focused event at conference and infrastructure investment through a sharing of resources.
At the Conservative Party Conference, APPGI Officer Mark Garnier MP welcomed Bob Neill MP, Minister for Planning and Localism. The Minister said that Government must identify alternative sources of funding to ensure infrastructure continues to get built and also create a planning system that aids the delivery of nationally significant projects.
At the Liberal Democrat Party Conference Lord Chidgey, Vice-Chair of the Group welcomed Dr Vincent Cable MP. Speaking in Liverpool, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills said the UK's infrastructure was shabby, falling 'well down on the pecking order internationally' and must be addressed. However he said that at a time when we need investment in large scale infrastructure projects, the Government is facing a large structural deficit.
At the Labour conference, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure spoke and welcomed the involvement of industry in supporting the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure looked forward to a busy programme for the APPGI over the rest of Parliamentary term.