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SELECT, the authoritative trade association for the electrotechnical industry, and the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group, of which it is an active member, have both welcomed the ground-breaking report of the Business and Enterprise Committee on the UK construction industry.
In particular, both these influential bodies have been heartened by the report’s key recommendation that the government should appoint a champion for the industry who would drive forward best practice and become the main contact point for the industry.
The report is not calling for a dedicated minister for construction, but it stresses the need for a clearly identified senior government official would have an operational role on both regulation and policy and would help the government engage with the supply chain early on the procurement process.
The report is one of the biggest ever undertaken by the Business and Enterprise Committee, formerly the Trade and Industry Select Committee, and it recognises the vital importance of the construction industry and its constituent parts to the wider UK economy.
It accuses the government of “not doing enough as a client” to expedite procurement and promote more integrated working. In addition, the SECG, backed by SELECT, has driven a number of other issues which have been taken up by the report. They include:
• Project insurance to be trialled across government procurement projects.
• The phasing out of retentions “as soon as possible”.
• The introduction and use by the government of project bank accounts.
• A reduction in VAT on all repair and maintenance work.
• A contractual requirement on public sector clients to ensure occupational competence by insisting on a workforce with Construction Skills Certification Scheme and Engineering and Construction Sub-contract cards.
• The rationalisation of pre-qualification schemes.
The government now has 90 days to issue its response to the issues and recommendations contained within the report.
David Wright, Head of External Affairs at SELECT, said: “If only some of these measures eventually work their way through the system, the industry will become better performing and more efficient. SELECT will continue to support SECG efforts and will encourage other construction industry bodies to back the report.”
For more information please contact David Wright, Head of External Affairs at SELECT , the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, tel. 0131 445 5577.
Issued by Karen Maclachlan at Blueprint Media tel. 0141 353 5501.
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