National commission would create a consensus on transport "decades ahead" claims Labour

Sir John Armitt: a Labour review and an aim to create a national consensus on transport

Sir John Armitt: a Labour review and an aim to create a national consensus on transport

The Labour Party has accepted the recommendation of Sir John Armitt to establish an independent National Infrastructure Commission to "help create a national consensus on infrastructure planning for decades ahead".

Labour leader Ed Miliband made the pledge as he met several hundred business leaders to discuss how the party could boost the economy. At the same time, Sir John Armitt, who delivered the Olympics, published draft legislation for consultation how the commission could be established. 

The commission would draw up a statement of infrastructure needs for the next 30 years which would, subject to a parliamentary vote, then have to be implemented by the DfT and other Whitehall departments.

He invited comments on his Draft National Infrastructure Bill and programme for establishing the commission by October. The announcement followed a flurry of Labour announcements this week to improve infrastructure planning and funding, raising the importance of the issue ten months before the General Election.