Government Policy

Question 1

how does infrastructure investment maintain economic growth? (3)

Answer 1

1. ensures an area is well connected, potentially being open for import and export
2. business locate as people can get there to work
3. accessible to tourists

Question 2

give an example of the north-south divide in terms of transport infrastructure

Answer 2

65km journey by train:

• Newcastle to Middlesbrough 90 minutes
• Chelmsford to London 36 minutes

Question 3

what is HS2?

Answer 3

a high-speed railway in two phases

Question 4

what is phase one of HS2?

Answer 4

connect London to Birmingham

Question 5

what is phase two of HS2?

Answer 5

high speed link between west coast mainline and east coast mainline

Question 6

what are the estimates of economic growth as a result of HS2?

Answer 6

anywhere between £15 billion and £0.01 billion

Question 7

what are the projected benefits of HS2? (4)

Answer 7

1. increase rail capacity
2. increase connectivity
3. rebalance the economy
4. enhance sustainability

Question 8

what are the arguments against HS2? (3)

Answer 8

1. London will get disproportionate benefits
2. northern cities need to invest in other things such as education and housing
3. smaller towns (Bradford) lose out to larger ones (Leeds)

Question 9

what does the government plan to do to improve airport infrastructure?

Answer 9

build a third runway at Heathrow

Question 10

what is a player involved in building the third runway at Heathrow

Answer 10

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)

Question 11

what stake do USS have in Heathrow and what will they do with it?

Answer 11

invest into the third runway

Question 12

how many jobs will the third runway at Heathrow provide

Answer 12

77,000

Question 13

how much will the third runway cost?

Answer 13

£17.6 billion