Pre-Budget Parliamentary Reception for Infrastructure Group
The evening before the Budget saw the first joint annual the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Infrastructure and All-Party Parliamentary Group for Underground Space reception held in the Atlee Suite of Portcullis House.
The 22nd of March 2011 saw the first joint annual the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Infrastructure (APPGI) and All-Party Parliamentary Group for Underground Space (APPGUS) reception held in the Atlee Suite of Portcullis House.
The event took place on eve of Budget and welcomed over 25 parliamentarians and 150 individuals from across industry; it brought together Parliament and industry to discuss how investment in infrastructure can help deliver the Government's growth agenda.
Helen Natrass of the British Tunnelling Society, who spoke first, recognised the number of senior figures attending and the large number of young professionals representing the "potential future leaders of industry".
Peter Hansford, ICE President spoke about the sponsoring organisations and how they had been working closely with Infrastructure UK tat HM Treasury on ongoing work to reduce the cost of major infrastructure projects in the UK.
Following this the Rt Hon. Nick Raynsford, chair of the two All Party Groups, welcomed the principle of groups in Parliament working together to help facilitate industry-Parliamentary relations.
Mark Garnier MP, Member of the Treasury Select Committee, also emphasised the importance of infrastructure, and the importance of the contribution of engineering professions to the delivery of government policy and national prosperity.
The event was co-sponsored by leading organisations in the infrastructure field; including the Institution of Civil Engineering, the British Tunnelling Society, SCCS, Association for Consultancy and Engineering, Civil Engineering Contractors Association and the Construction Products Association. The reception