CBI responds to Coalition Mid-Term Review

8 Jan 2013 10:06 AM

John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said:

“The Coalition deserves high marks for its commitment to tackle the deficit and its plan for growth, but in some cases its delivery has been disappointing.

“Growth-boosting measures like house, road and rail building are getting too bogged down in the planning and procurement process.

“We don’t need a flurry of new announcements, but we do need to see the Coalition’s ideas translated into action now."

On public services reform, Mr Cridland said;

“The Government has been far too slow to open up public services to independent competition. This is the only way to meet budget constraints and maintain service quality.”

On roads, he said:

 “With a £10bn shortfall in the Highways Agency budget, it’s clear that the current road funding model is unsustainable. The Government should introduce a Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) model which would attract much-needed private investment while keeping costs low for road users.”

On pensions, he said:

“The introduction of a single-tier state pension will simplify the system and encourage more people to be proactive about saving for retirement.”

On childcare, he said:

“Extra support for childcare is a sensible way to help parents with tough family budgets and keep them in work.”

Notes to Editors:

The CBI is the UK's leading business organisation, speaking for some 240,000 businesses that together employ around a third of the private sector workforce. With offices across the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

The CBI has set out its proposals for the future of our roads here and public services reform here.