CLG gets limited response

The Constructors Liaison Group has received a limited response to the letter it sent to construction minister Nick Raynsford a month ago highlighting apparent loop-holes in the year-old Construction Act.

Rudi Klein, legal advisor to the CLG, told CJ: "Raynsford has said that not enough time has passed to get to grips with the Act and evaluate how it is working - which we agree with. But, we have tried to give an early indication of where problems are occurring. One big problem was the enforcement of adjudication decisions which has been removed by recent cases."

Klein continued: "On the other hand, we anticipated that there would be more cases of contractors switching to pay-when-certified as a way of getting round the banning of pay-when-paid. We have been proved wrong."

Klein said that he has been unofficially told that a detailed response from civil servants will come in early August.