Published on 11 Dec 2009 • England, Wales |
"Today the Chancellor has acknowledged our calls for a strategic approach to the UK's essential infrastructure. Our transport, water and energy networks are the life line of the UK economy and are too valuable to be allowed to develop piecemeal."
"Infrastructure UK is potentially a major step forward but will only be effective if it cuts through the silos that exist between government departments in order to unlock real value for money."
"..the Government is pumping money into construction faster and intends to continue doing so for a year or so more. That may account for the slowing in the collapse of the construction figures and the reduced panic we have experienced in recent months... But this extra money, while welcome in staving off the pain now, does suggest a rather larger fall when the flow dwindles, as is planned."
"This is an encouraging package to support companies as they seek to exploit new low-carbon opportunities... By committing to support four Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration plants, the Government is increasing the UK's chances of success in getting this transformative technology off the ground. The introduction of a boiler scrappage scheme is a sensible way of encouraging households to replace older models with more efficient ones."
"This is a very welcome development. The fact we will have an expert body, looking over the government's significant investment in infrastructure, should take a lot of the waste out of the system."
"The Association welcomes measures to help improve the energy efficiency of the built environment and in particular the widely trailed Boiler Scrappage Scheme, which is a small step in the right direction. 'Although tackling 125,000 boilers is a welcome start, there are nearly five million boilers currently in use with a permanent pilot light, so if the government is to live up to its ambition to maintain leadership in the low-carbon sector, the scale of the problem that needs to be addressed remains considerable'."
"The Chancellor rightly highlighted the low carbon skills as a priority in the week when we are seeking to reach a global deal in Copenhagen. The announcements for the new body Infrastructure UK to co-ordinate and deliver nationally significant infrastructure is a welcome step to improving the delivery of major infrastructure."
"The extension of the Young Person's Guarantee shows that the Government has learnt the lessons of previous recessions and is taking decisive action to prevent another lost generation of young people."