Growth has been a central theme of the Government’s during and post the election
The Government represented by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday presented more detail on the delivery of their growth agenda. Growth has been a central theme of the Government’s during and post the election and a critical element to bring prosperity to the UK.
The challenge for Government is when this growth can be delivered and felt in the economy and by the electorate. Many of the schemes mentioned by the Chancellor are critical in building a well-functioning economy but will not be delivered quickly.
Whilst long term infrastructure planning linked to a coherent industrial strategy has been missing in the UK since the 1960’s, due mostly to our inability to break free of a mindset which is constrained by the five-year electoral cycle we need to address both the long term but also identify areas for growth in the medium term as well.
Our sector has repeatedly illustrated to Government how it is ready to invest in the UK recycling and recovery infrastructure if the right investible conditions are present. Fortunately, DEFRA under the guidance of Steve Reed and Mary Creagh have accelerated the delivery of key legislation for extended producer responsibility, a deposit return system and simpler recycling all of which can in the short to medium term deliver much needed growth. The deposit return scheme which comes into force in October 2027 could deliver for example an estimated Twenty-one thousand jobs and £10 billion in infrastructure investment.
Whist our sector is ready to help the UK so could the Government by improving the functioning of the Environment Agency which has become a real growth blocker for our industry over the last years with its inability to delivery permits at an acceptable delay. This permit inertia links directly to investment.
Intelligent legislative is proven to stimulate our sector and allow us to bridge the growth gap between the long-term infrastructure being built, so I am also hopeful that the “Circular Economy Taskforce” will identify many more opportunities for sector to contribute to the growth of the UK in the medium term. This should a part of their remit.
Much has been made about the inability to deliver growth without the cost to our environment and wildlife, I know that our sector can deliver this important and quick growth that the Country needs with real associated environmental benefits and best of all without the need for any newts or bats worrying!
