How can the government provide certainty over its investment plans to promote growth?

Published: July 19, 2023, 7:58 a.m.

b'The government\\u2019s plans for capital projects have repeatedly shifted over the last decade. Capital budgets have been cut, then boosted, and now retrenchment is planned again. And major capital projects, such as HS2, have been subject to revisions in budget and scope. The five-year national infrastructure delivery plan and the national infrastructure and construction pipeline only apply to some projects and are still subject to change. This makes it difficult for the construction sector to plan, which can increase government costs and mean its capital budgets do not go as far.\\n\\nSo what are the benefits of, and barriers to, a longer-term and more stable project pipeline? This event explored those key questions from both the government\\u2019s and industry\\u2019s perspective.\\n\\nTo explore these questions and more, our expert panel included:\\n\\nSir John Armitt, Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission\\nSteve Beechey, Group Public Sector Director at Wates\\nBill Esterson MP, Shadow Minister for Business and Industry\\nUrvashi Parashar, Chief Impact Officer and Chief Economist at the UK Infrastructure Bank \\n\\nThe event was chaired by Olly Bartrum, Senior Economist at the Institute for Government.\\n\\nThis event was kindly supported by Wates Group.'