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Joined-up government
Apr. 1st, 2009 08:15 pmSo the economy is in crisis, the governments of the world need to increase public spending to combat unemployment and stimulate demand. Common sense and received wisdom is to take the opportunity to invest in infrastructure projects, especially ones which have long-term positive effects on national productivity.
Like building and refurbishing further education colleges, for instance. A few years ago the UK government announced a huge capital spending program to repair and replace the decaying buildings of our further education system. All the colleges were told to identify, plan, and schedule ambitious building improvements. They went off and did this, found construction contractors, and in some cases actually demolished their existing buildings to clear sites for the new build. These projects are as "shovel-ready" as they get.
But no, sorry, we've spent seventeen kajillion squid buying off city fat cats, so we can't afford to go ahead with these long-planned and much-heralded refurbishments. Back to the leaky portakabin, chaps. Hope that's OK?
What?!
Like building and refurbishing further education colleges, for instance. A few years ago the UK government announced a huge capital spending program to repair and replace the decaying buildings of our further education system. All the colleges were told to identify, plan, and schedule ambitious building improvements. They went off and did this, found construction contractors, and in some cases actually demolished their existing buildings to clear sites for the new build. These projects are as "shovel-ready" as they get.
But no, sorry, we've spent seventeen kajillion squid buying off city fat cats, so we can't afford to go ahead with these long-planned and much-heralded refurbishments. Back to the leaky portakabin, chaps. Hope that's OK?
What?!
