There has been a lot of talk about the new high speed rail link (HS2) and whether it offers a benefit or not.
It also seems there are contradictory views in the environmental camp. In theory HS2 has the capability to reduce air travel within the UK. This reduces the need to expand airports and cuts the CO2 emissions and noise from the flights that are either cut or extra flights that are no longer needed. On this basis you would expect the evironmentalists to be positively encouraging HS2. But no, they don't want this solution. It isn't clear what they want unless we are all to stop travelling but at the moment the broadband infrastructure is still inadequate as a replacement for face to face meetings and is never likely to replace conferences and business exhibitions.
What is the answer? The existing rail network is already creaking at the seams so there is very little scope for adding more trains. Speaking as someone who has had to stand on a number of reasonably long journeys in dangerously overcrowded trains I feel we must do something if we are not to force people in to their cars (again much hated by environmentalists).
Based on this we should go ahead and build HS2, making sure it covers enough of the country to provide benefit which means it must ultimately go to Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other such key centres.
From an environmental impact point of view in many areas it is being built into tunnels and cuttings so reducing noise and visual disturbance. Maybe more of the route has to be built in this way but that depends on where it is passing.
Given the recent furore about Bombardier surely there must be good reason for going ahead - jobs could be saved and created. Not only jobs directly related to building the trains, but also construction jobs for the track and infrastructure and jobs at the new stations, drivers, maintenance staff and so on.
Of course a number of people in the south have complained about the line. An interesting solution was provided for this, put a station near them - improved links to London will send their house prices rocketting and they will suddenly change their minds.
We live in the 21st century and increasing population and work diversity means we must travel. Let us not be rated the poor relative to Europe when it comes to transport systems.
But I thought you wanted to cut public expenditure. Make up your mind. Cuts or improvements?
ReplyDeleteAs for me I'm strongly in favour of the government supporting this type of infrastructure and spending more on science. (On the other hand, I'm finally getting a grasp of how much is wasted on bureaucracy when this happens.)
Firmly on the fence!
You are correct, I am in favour of cutting public expenditure. In order to achieve the HS2 and still cut overall expenditure we must look to other areas of expenditure.
ReplyDeleteForeign aid for countries which either do not need it, doesn't get to the people it was intended for or is used inefficiently should be cut back.
Loans to bale Euro Zone countries out of the mess caused by the Euro are another significant expense. As a country we have not joined the Euro so why should we pay for it's failure?
MP's expenses, whilst only a small area should also be curtailed - look after the pennies etc.
If I were to look at the public accounts in detail I have no doubt there are many other areas which should be reined in to provide funding.
I am not advocating increased public spending, merely better focussed spending policies.
Is the key to your debate above to distinguish between spending and investment? Politicians like to use "investment" as a euphemism for "spending" because it sounds nicer.
ReplyDeleteInvestment is when after the paying stops, the benefits continue. Spending is when after the paying stops, the benefits stop.
HS2 is INVESTMENT, as, after the costs of building it are paid, the benefits will continue, and the country will be better off ever afterwards.
Libraries, lollipop ladies, doctors etc require SPENDING. If you stop paying the costs of employing them, you no longer get their benefits.
Investment on projects like HS2 will increase our ability to spend in future years. Or not spend if you prefer, but that is a choice.