Infrastructure

Debate between Rachel Reeves and Henry Smith

Tuesday 12th February 2013 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Reeves]

I have already given way to the hon. Members.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

You haven’t given way to me.

[Rachel Reeves]

I will give way to the hon. Gentleman. Perhaps he would like to explain why the Government have cut infrastructure spending by £12.8 billion over three years.

[Henry Smith]

I am grateful to the hon. Lady for allowing me to intervene. Does she welcome the thousands of new houses being built in the Kilnwood Vale neighbourhood in my constituency, in addition to the £26 million upgrade of Three Bridges rail station and the £53 million upgrade of Gatwick rail station, and so on?

[Rachel Reeves]

The problem is that this is just a wish list. Those things are not happening—as John Cridland says, the diggers are not on the ground. As I have said, housing investment is down 8% in just one year, and 129,000 jobs have been lost in the construction sector. I look forward to hearing Government Members explaining why they are supporting those policies.