Editorial

‘Universal Basic Infrastructure’ vital to unlock future national prosperity

A guaranteed standard of connectivity levels for the whole of the UK, not just London and the South East, could help heal the North-South divide, too, says new government-backed study

Posted 1 November 2017 by Gary Flood


Experts asked to input to the emerging government Industrial Strategy think a government commitment to provide every UK resident with high speed digital access should be a priority.

With such a level playing field of a ‘Universal Basic Infrastructure’ (UBI), argue the authors of a new government-commissioned study commissioned in January to help shape the imminent Green Paper on the Strategy, the UK could also finally do something concrete about the North-South economic imbalance the UK’s been suffering from for decades.

“Universal basic infrastructure is a bold proposal to upgrade the UK economy’s productivity potential,” claimed Professor Diane Coyle, co-director of Policy@Manchester at the University of Manchester and one of the authors of the document.

“Our version of UBI would give all people, places and businesses access to the physical infrastructure they need – such as transport, energy, and digital – and also to the ‘soft’ infrastructure of high quality health and education services that are essential to everyone’s well-being and capacity to find jobs.”

“The UK’s people, places and industries have great strengths and untapped potential,” added the group’s chair, economist Dame Kate Barker.

“But we must accept the reality that the economy also contains many long-established weaknesses.

“Industrial strategy needs to be embraced as a long-term plan to manage the economy strategically and embedded throughout government [but] if we get the new strategy right it can build on these strengths, tackle our weaknesses and above all have a positive, long-lasting impact on people’s everyday lives.”

Her group’s recommendations go beyond digital, suggesting national targets to decarbonise the economy, improve physical transport and other infrastructure, encourage longer term investment than is customary for British business and to ensure a sustainable health and social care system for future needs.

Commenting on the proposals for the government, Business Secretary Greg Clark said, “We welcome the positive support for a new industrial strategy by the commission and share its ambition.

“We will carefully consider their contribution to this important work.”