Commenting on the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech, where George Osborne set out strict new fiscal rules, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“While running a budget surplus is a laudable aim, economic history shows that the national interest sometimes requires fiscal flexibility. It is impossible to predict global economic conditions with any certainty, so no government should put itself into a fiscal straitjacket that limits its scope to respond.
“Any move to constrain future spending should explicitly exclude infrastructure, which is an investment rather than just a cost. Roads, railways, energy grids and broadband drive productivity and job creation – and it is time for government’s contributions to national infrastructure to be removed from the debate on the deficit and the national debt.
“Far too often, Britain’s infrastructure needs have been sacrificed to short-term spending considerations. This must stop.”
Norfolk has historically lagged behind in terms of infrastructure and Norfolk Chamber and our members, from start ups to our large scale members have been lobbying hard for those improvements. In December last year funding was announced in the Autumn Statement to deliver improvements along the A47.
Improvements announced in Autumn Statement:
- A47 North Tuddenham to Easton
- A47 Blofield to North Burlingham
- A47/A12 Great Yarmouth: junction improvements, including reconstruction of the Vauxhall roundabout.
- Acle Straight – Safety improvements at key hotspots
- A47/A11 Thickthorn junction
The Chamber’s ‘Business Plan for Norfolk’ highlights the need for improvements to Norfolk’s infrastructure to help further develop economic growth. Norfolk Chamber and our members continue to lobby hard to draw attention to Norfolk’s needs. We are members of the A47 Alliance; have heavily supported the rail improvement campaigns; and have been vocal in our support for the NDR. We are also calling for improved Broadband and mobile coverage, as well as driving down the costs of doing business i.e. reductions in red tape and regulatory burdens on Norfolk businesses.
We would call for the Government to honour its Autumn Statement funding announcements and provide the necessary infrastructure for Norfolk businesses to deliver economic growth and jobs for our region.
