Roads investment is vital for UK recovery, insists minister
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TRANSPORT MINISTER Paul Clark has told CM that continuous investment in road infrastructure is essential to the UK's recovery, and that it should be a "large factor" in future budgets.
Chancellor Alistair Darling will unveil the final Budget of the current government on 24 March, ahead of an anticipated 6 May general election. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association — in addition to CM — have called for investment in Britain's roads to be maintained at planned levels.
Clark insists that investment in a variety of road schemes, from traffic management for the strategic network to hard shoulder running and motorway widening, had to continue, despite the prospect of widespread cuts in government spending levels.
"We have made it very clear that the investment we had planned for this next year has to continue. Cutting investment now would undermine the UK's fragile recovery. so we do not want to see that happen." he says.
He adds: -We need to recognise the importance of investment in infrastructure for the good of the UK. I am sure that will he a large factor when we are drawing up budgets for 2011 and beyond." Clark defended Labour's record over road infrastructure investment, claiming that the past 13 years represented levels that were "second to none".
Jo Tanner, FTA director of communications. retorted: "While Clark's pre-clection words are reassuring, we must keep the importance of investing in our economy under the spotlight."
Tanner added that it would be good to hear similar reassurances from rival political parties.
For live coverage of the Budget, log on to www.roadtransport.com on 24 March.
• A full interview with transport minister Paul nark will appear in (711's 1 April issue.