Our infrastructure has suffered many years of underinvestment. Much needs to be done to improve our transport networks, schools and healthcare estate to name but three areas. There are other pressing concerns, including the need to improve our ageing water and sewage systems and to adopt new ways to deal with domestic waste.
Demographic shifts will impact on all our infrastructure needs. For example, changing birth rates will continue to affect our schools and have knock-on implications on further and higher education, future housing demands and other facilities in the community. A growing older population will have major implications for hospitals, health care provision and more generally nursing and care homes.
For the first time in our recent history there has been a shift from net emigration to an increasing number of people choosing to live and work here. By the end of 2006, we welcomed to our shores over 19,000 fellow EU citizens, and some from further afield, who are helping to grow our economy and enrich our cultural diversity. A growing population is a sign of renewed confidence and vitality, and our infrastructure needs to respond accordingly to both meet the current demands but also to ensure that we do not create blockages to our growth.
While our chief economic success of recent years has been job creation, our productivity and income lag behind our closest neighbours. Improved infrastructure helps to create a platform to develop our skills base and nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship; essential if we are to meet the challenging aspirations we have for the economy and improve living standards and lifetime opportunities for all.