b'16 Member News March 2021Influencing government and industryPublic affairs duringThe Conservative fringe event was attended by Gillian Keegan MP, the pandemic Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, and Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. In 2020, we joined forces with EngineeringUK, theThey were joined on the panel by IET Trustee Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the RoyalYewande Akinola MBE BEng Academy of Engineering to host virtual fringe eventsMSc CEng FIET, Professor Jim Hall (ICE), Dr Hilary at the Labour and Conservative party conferences. Leevers from EngineeringUK and former IET President The events, entitledThe fringe events outlinedRobert Beahan, IET PublicProfessor Jeremy Watson Engineering Priorities for thethe engineering prioritiesAffairs Manager, said:CBE FREng DPhil CEng FIET Spending Review, took placefor the Governmentfrom the Royal Academyahead of the GovernmentsComprehensive Spendingof Engineering.2020 ComprehensiveReview. A panel ofThe ComprehensiveThe events coincided with Spending Review plannedengineering experts, joinedSpending Reviewthe publication of a new for the autumn. The Nationalby politicians, proposedNational Engineering Policy Engineering Policy Centreactions to enable the UK tocame at such anCentre document, entitled brand, which brings togethermake investment decisionsimportant timeEngineering a resilient and 43 different UK engineeringthat will create more jobsfor our economy.sustainable future. The organisations representingand prosperity, as wellIET and other Professional 450,000 engineers, was as meeting the futureIt is crucial thatEngineering Institutions also featured. needs of our society. engineers highlighthave all contributed to the important rolethis new document, which offers a range of suggested that technology andconcrete actions in four innovation will have areas, grouped under in creating more Net-zero, Education and Skills, Infrastructure and jobs and prosperityInnovation, but with many across the nation interdependencies and as we emerge fromoverlaps between them. the pandemic. Meanwhile, weve launched a new podcast from ENGINEERING Bridget Phillipson MP,the IET and The House magazine. Engineering a A BETTER WORLD Shadow Chief Secretary toBetter World looks at how the Treasury, attended theengineering and technology Labour fringe event. Shehave enhanced our lives. was joined by former IETIn the podcast, we talk Vice President Dr Simonto Parliamentarians and Harrison BSc PhD CEngengineering experts on a FIET, Blessing Danha MEngrange of issues from 5G (Hons) CEng MICE, Dr Hilaryto manufacturing. This is Leevers from EngineeringUKpart of our charitable remit and Faith Wainwright FREngto inform and influence MBE FIStructE FICE FREngGovernment on a wide DEng(Hons) from the Royalrange of engineering and Academy of Engineering. technology issues. For more information, visit theiet.org/podcasts'