Measures to turn the Highways Agency into a Government owned company have been confirmed by the Queen today in her State Opening of Parliament speech.

The change forms part of an Infrastructure Bill which also looks to bolster investment in infrastructure and reform planning law to improve economic competitiveness.

The Bill will provide the Highways Agency with stable long term funding to plan ahead. Passenger Focus and the Office of Rail Regulation will represent the interests of road users and monitor the company’s performance.

Government says the main benefits of the Bill will be to direct funding to where it is most needed and to speed up the pace of delivery in key areas of infrastructure developments.

Transportation commentators have welcomed the Infrastructure Bill.

CIHT said it supports the reforms included in the Bill and welcomes the introduction of legislation to transform the Highways Agency into a government owned company.

Director of Policy and Technical Affairs Andrew Hugill said: “Strengthening investment and guaranteeing long term funding for the Highways Agency will provide the supply chain with greater certainty to innovate and invest over a period of time.”

Institution of Civil Engineers director general Nick Baveystock said: “Transforming the Highways Agency into a Government owned company will facilitate a welcome shift away from the costly and inefficient stop/start pattern of investment that has plagued the development and operation of our road network.”

Confederation of British Industry deputy director general Katja Hall said that providing flexible five year budgets to the new Government owned company would allow it to act more strategically and deliver improved road networks.

The Queen also announced that Government will look to increase the total number of apprenticeship places to two million by the end of the Parliament.

Photo courtesy of the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury

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