Today I took the opportunity in Prime Minister’s Questions this week to ask David Cameron about the government’s long term plans for infrastructure, focusing on the new proposal for an independent National Infrastructure Commission to be headed by former Labour Minister, Lord Adonis.
The Prime Minister responded,
“I’m delighted we are establishing the National Infrastructure Commission, I hope it can put some of these questions about infrastructure beyond party politics and I think that would be a thoroughly good thing. I am delighted that Lord Adonis who made a great contribution in Government will be someone who is running it.”
He added,
“I know that my Honourable Friend and I will also want to make sure that the Cotswold Line is looked at very carefully by the Infrastructure Commission as it does its work.”
Worcestershire is seeing a lot of infrastructure investment at the moment. The M5 junction improvements, the road resurfacing work and the roadworks around Worcester are part of a major £1.4 billion regional road improvement programme. In addition, over the next couple of years a new Worcestershire Parkway rail station will also be built and significant improvements to the rail service are planned. I of course share the Prime Minister’s view that the Cotswold Line should be looked at by the Infrastructure Commission. It is clear that further redoubling is necessary, and would be to the benefit of the several constituencies along the route.
It is great that the Prime Minister backs this investment work but we do need a more systematic approach to identifying and prioritising infrastructure projects in this country and I believe the new National Infrastructure Commission is the right vehicle to do this.