Construction Board gets green light

Establishment of a Construction Industry Board to oversee improvements to procurement practice was given the go ahead this week by Environment Secretary John Gummer.

The board - chaired by Sir Michael Latham - will bring forward detailed proposals for legislation to outlaw unfair contract conditions. It will co-ordinate 10 working groups set up by the Latham review implementation forum. And it will draw up a business plan for a longer term role.

Legislation is still not guaranteed. But advocates now believe they are more than halfway there. Initial funding will be split between the Government and industry. Members will be drawn from clients, contractors, specialists, and professions.

Gummer met industry leaders on Tuesday to respond to the Latham proposals. He said that industry's support for legislation meant that now there would be full public consultation on detailed proposals.