1. The UK’s National Infrastructure Commission
September 2018

2. What was the problem?
“There is growing evidence that the UK’s infrastructure has not been renewed or enhanced when needed…successive Governments have failed to set strategic priorities for infrastructure based on clear projections of future needs.”

3. What was the problem?
“After years of inadequate investment in skills, infrastructure and innovation, there are longstanding structural weaknesses in the economy, all rooted in a failure to achieve stable planning, strategic vision and a political consensus on the right policy framework to support growth.”

4. Key milestones Labour manifesto proposes a new body
Established as an executive agency
2015
2016
George Osbourne announces creation of NIC
National Infrastructure Assessment published
First three reports published 4

5. The Commission is a catalyst for a different approach
From…
Overly cautious
Piecemeal
Siloed
To…
Neutral
Independent
Cross-sectoral
Consensus
Transparent & consultative
Strategic
Long term
Slow
Stop-start
Contentious
Expensive
Unreliable
Disruption
Delayed
Unplanned
Opaque
Unpredictable

6. The UK has a range of independent economic bodies
Policy advice
Executive function

7. Status of the Commission
The Commission is an agency of HM Treasury, with a Charter
guaranteeing our independence, but no legislation
Pros
Independence
Quick and easy process
Cons
More fragile
No legal requirements on
decision makers

8. Governance: the Commission

9. Scope The Commission covers economic infrastructure: Energy Transport
Digital
Water & sewerage
Flood risk
Solid waste
Overlaps with housing, but not housing itself
Not ‘social infrastructure’
Icons: Renewable energy by Made by Made; bridge By Cezar de Costa, BR; internet by Markus; Water by andriwidodo; Flood by Luis Prado; waste reduction by Maxim Basinski: all from Noun Project 9

10. Objectives
Three objectives:
support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK
improve competitiveness
improve quality of life

11. Role Three parts to our role: National Infrastructure Assessment
Long-term infrastructure plan
Once every 5 years
Across all economic infrastructure
Studies
Specific in-depth reports
Commissioned by Govt, with ToR
Annual Monitoring Report
Holding Govt to account for agreed recommendations

12. The fiscal remit and bills
The Commission has to operate within a budget constraint
“The Commission must be able to demonstrate that its recommendations … can be accommodated within gross public investment in economic infrastructure of between 1.0% and 1.2% of GDP in each year between 2020 and 2050”
“The Commission should include a transparent assessment of the impact on costs to businesses, consumers, public bodies and other end users of infrastructure”

13. The UK has a separate body for infrastructure delivery
Sits within Government
Covers both social and economic infrastructure
Responsible for the overall project
delivery system
Building delivery capability
Supporting private investment
Setting up projects for success
Measuring and improving performance

14. Reflections on the first three years
The creation of the Commission was well- received
Setup still to be proven
in the long term
Stability among Commissioners is helpful
The Commission’s
independence is key