Engineers in spending plea

The Institution of Civil Engineers said today that maintaining investment in infrastructure projects would deliver long-term social, economic and environmental benefits.

The recession and public spending deficit had led to uncertainty about how the necessary capital could be raised, and which infrastructure projects were a priority at a time of scarce resources and growing demand, it said.

It was vital that projects such as the new nuclear energy programme should go ahead despite the cost.

Feasibility studies for proposals such as the Severn tidal project and high-speed rail links to Scotland must also be driven forward, said the institution.