Another Example of Gordon Brown's Forked Tongue

Another Example of Gordon Brown's Forked Tongue

Iain Dale 6:30 PM

You know how Gordon Brown has trumpeted how he is going to ensure public sector projects are brought forward in order to alleviate the effects of the recession? A reader emails me with an example of a government agency which clearly hasn't got the message.

MULTI-million pound building projects at colleges in the city [Nottingham] and county are being delayed by a hold on funding. In an unprecedented decision by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) – responsible for further education in England and Wales – all capital project submissions for colleges have been deferred for at least three months. It means the future is uncertain for the £57m Basford Learning Park development to replace New College Nottingham's Basford Hall.
Approval was still being sought for the project from the LSC, which would have funded 70% of the development. David White, vice-principal at New College Nottingham (ncn), is frustrated, but said:"This innovative and crucial project, which will benefit the community, invest in the local economy and in the regional construction industry, remains a top priority." West Notts College's plans for a new £96m 'super college' for Ashfield and Mansfield could also be affected.

Feel free to furnish me with further examples of delayed building projects which fly in the face of the government's stated policy of 'bringing forward capital spending'.