Investing in Britain’s Future

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Thursday 27th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

Thank you for that advice, Mr. Speaker. I was merely attempting to respond to the inaccurate account of our investment given by the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie). In fact, investment as a share of GDP will be higher during the current decade than it was during the 13 years for which Labour was in office. We are spending more and underspending less than Labour did. Ours is a record of delivery and a record of action, and today I have given the House our promise of more.

The hon. Gentleman asked about the private sector. We have been listening to the private sector, which is why we are setting out the long-term plans that it wants. He asked about the planning system. We have reformed the planning system, and he voted against that reform. He also asked about flooding. As I said in my statement, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be announcing amendments to the Water Bill. The hon. Gentleman will know from the spending round document which was published yesterday that the forecast for local government self-financed expenditure is up, not down. I am sorry to hear that he opposes investment in shale gas. His Building Schools for the Future programme was expensive and inefficient, which is why we have introduced the Priority School Building programme.

I should very much have liked to hear from the hon. Gentleman that he supported our detailed and ambitious plans, and so would the country. I am sorry that we did not hear that from him, and I hope that he will reflect on it in the days to come.

[Miss Anne McIntosh (Thirsk and Malton) (Con)]

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his statement. I thank him for his announcement about flood defences, which will pave the way for a flood insurance agreement, but will he please give careful consideration to maintenance spending as well? The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee took evidence from the Association of British Insurers about the subsidy issue. There is a fear that a subsidy will be paid by all households that take out insurance, which would have implications for their spending. We want insurance to be available, yet affordable.

[Danny Alexander]

I know that the hon. Lady has taken a great interest in this subject. Maintenance spending constitutes a major part of the DEFRA resource budget that was announced yesterday. DEFRA has made considerable efficiencies in flood resource spending, and will continue to have a significant budget. I have been assured by the Association of British Insurers that the proposed levy will not add to people’s bills overall.