Government urged to invest in transport to boost economy
The government needs to bring forward investment in transport to boost the economy to ensure the UK has growth, according to Transport Matters: A Unite strategy for transport.
The strategy launched today (Monday 11 November) by Britain's largest union, Unite, calls for urgent investment in transport, arguing that for every £1 spent by the government on transport schemes delivers £4 in overall benefits.
The strategy also calls for better regulation of buses to halt 'bus wars', high prices and the isolation of communities. Calling for the railway to move back into public ownership, the report argues that reuniting the railways under public ownership could save the taxpayer £1.2 billion a year through cheaper borrowing, removing shareholders' dividends and reducing fragmentation.
Transport Matters also focuses on the people who keep the nation on the move and calls for an end to the 'race to the bottom'. Across the transport sector workers are subject to profit-led cost cutting, undercutting and insecurity which are putting pressure on pay, pensions and decent working practices.
Commenting, Unite assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, said: “Investment in transport is good for the economy, good for the travelling public and good for communities. Investment in transport in woefully low compared to other countries.
“The government needs to do more and bring investment forward to ensure we have an integrated transport system that benefits communities and drives economic growth for all.
“For too long our public transport has served the whims of the market and shareholders. We need an end to deregulation and privatisation of our buses which is resulting in 'bus wars', the isolation of communities and soaring fares.
“We also need to reunite our railway under public ownership to ensure we have a public transport network that serves the needs of passengers and for all modes of transport to be integrated.
“If Britain is to win in the global race the prime minster talks about then it is time that an integrated accountable transport system was put at the heart of the economic recovery.”
