Crucial period for Latham

The next two or three months are likely to be decisive for the full implementation, or otherwise, of the reforms proposed in the report on Constructing the Team, according to its author, Sir Michael Latham.

Addressing members of the Partitioning and Interiors Association last week, Latham commented: 'It would indeed be sad to have come this far, with several of the new codes of practice or guidance well advanced and likely to be published in the next six months, if the final achievements were less than they needed to be either through vested interests or internal wrangling preventing the breakthrough which is within our grasp.'

Whatever happened now, enough had already been achieved to prevent failure. But there was still a 'massive prize' to be gained.

Sir Michael Latham added: 'We can redraft contract conditions to make them less adversarial and provide for win-win solutions and effective and speedy dispute resolution.'