ConstructionLine registration charges of £400 are unfair

Sir,

With reference to your article regarding ConstructionLine in your issue of 21 October 1998, we would like to comment that, when our Trust looked at using the above register of approved contractors and consultants as opposed to maintaining our own register and making our own checks and enquiries, we were encouraged to find that contractors and consultants did not have to pay a fee "to register."

However, we are now learning that when we have asked contractors to make enquiries regarding inclusion on the list they are being asked for a £400 per annum fee.

We find this situation quite unacceptable considering the DETR's statement that: "The level of the fee will, the department believes, be fair, not bear down disproportionately on smaller firms and represent good value for money." This does not appear to be the case now at all.

I Garlington

Estates Manager

Hastings and Rother NHSTrust

East Sussex