Civil engineering contractors make 6 budget demands of government

The Civil Engineering Contractors Associated has submitted its recommendations to the Treasury, ahead of the Government’s 2010 Spring Budget.

CECA wants to highlight the role that infrastructure can play in the economic recovery, the need to develop innovative means of securing finance, and addressing the decline in funding for training within the construction industry.

Its six budget priorities are as follows:

1. The role that infrastructure can play in aiding the economic recovery and delivering sustainable economic growth in the long term should be reflected in the measures taken to reduce public sector debt.
2. Government should adopt a strategic approach to infrastructure investment, delivering confidence through consistent flows of spending and workload.
3. As a key element of a strategic approach to infrastructure investment, the Government should without delay publish a strategy for Infrastructure UK (IUK) to set out a 5-50 year horizon of need in infrastructure, as envisaged in the 2009 Pre-Budget Statement.
4. Government must also develop innovative means of securing long term finance for major infrastructure projects. Working with the construction industry and potential investors to identify a modified, more efficient PFI model that achieves a sensible allocation of risk must be a priority.
5. Address the decline in funding for training within the construction industry, with a range of measures including incentivising contractors to invest in tomorrow’s workforce with a National Insurance Contribution holiday for new entrants and apprentices.
6. Reverse the decision to increase National Insurance Contributions in 2011 to reduce the forecast burden on employers.

Rosemary Beales, CECA national director, said: “CECA believes that the Government must urgently address the decline in funding for training within the construction industry. Incentivising contractors to invest in tomorrow’s workforce with a National Insurance Contribution holiday for new entrants and apprentices is an excellent way of doing this.

“There is a pressing need to reduce the UK’s public sector debt, but deciding whether to cut the deficit or invest in and develop vital infrastructure - which is key to boosting the economy - is a false choice. A sustained economic recovery will depend on maintaining the UK as an attractive place to do business, both for home grown enterprises, international commercial ventures and investors.”
 

Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk