DON'T KILL THE BILL!

The surge of optimism in the construction industry following the publication of the Latham report is fading amid fears that vital legislation will not be enacted by the Government.

At a top conference on the much praised review on Monday, the industry's two new construction ministers - Viscount Ullswater and Robert Jones - failed to convince delegates that the Government would keep its side of the bargain when the industry demanded new law as a key recommendation of the report.

This was despite Tony Baldry's commitment in July 1993 when he said: 'If the review comes forward with recommendations, we would look very favourably on legislation.'

Industry bodies are now being urged to lobby their MPs ceaselessly over the summer to maintain the momentum of the report and ensure that the Government does not back away from legislating against bad practice in the industry.

Spokesman for the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group Rudi Klein, concerned about the mood of the conference, said: 'We must use all our influence and pressure to ensure that we will not rest until Government accepts the need for legislation. I cannot say this too strongly. We need carrot and stick to go forward and there was lots of carrot yesterday and no stick.'

His call was backed by MP Patrick Nicholls who questioned Viscount Ullswater at the conference about legislation and was told the Government was 'willing in principle to accept legislation'.

Nicholls told CJ: 'I understand people's concern about legislation but I think it is misplaced as long as we all make our MPs sit up and take notice that we need legislation. It is the whole logic and rationale behind the Latham report.'

Ullswater did give the industry some encouragement by setting up an Implementation Forum to oversee the work necessary to take the report forward. He announced that Sir Michael himself will chair the forum which would include representatives from the clients, the main contractors, the specialists and the professionals.

He also said Government would 'aspire to be a best practice client.'

The move went some way to satisfying delegates at the conference who fear that after initial enthusiasm the report will not change anything.

One delegate said: 'The two Ministers seemed to be backing away from legislation - nothing will change and it will be the same old faces on the Implementation Forum. It is depressing.'And Peter Rogers, construction director of Stanhope Properties, said: 'Everyone's waiting for Government to help but it is not going to.'

Ian Dixon of the Construction Industry Council said that legislation was secondary and what was really necessary was the will to change.

But another subcontractor representative said: 'We have heard this time and time again - since the last industry report we have talked of 'the will'. That is all well and good but what we need is legislation.'

l See page 2 and Comment, p6