Construction's move to DTI a 'mixed bag'

Exclusive by Ross Pearman



The construction industry will experience mixed fortunes in its move to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Speaking about the switch, a source close to the department said that the move would "please people in some areas but frustrate in others".

"What we have been assured through the move is that construction will hold on to its £22m allocation for research," said the source. "£5m of this will go to the building regulations division which stays with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions."

The news that the funds are secure has ended weeks of nail-biting by the industry over whether construction would figure highly on the DTI's agenda.

The source said: "It seems this is the case so far and will mean that vital funds can be injected into ensuring that Rethinking Construction gets off the ground."

Despite the DTI giving industry and energy minister Brian Wilson a brief to look after construction, the source said: "Many still feel cheated by losing Nick Raynsford as construction minister. There are many concerns at the moment that construction doesn't have a captain for its ship."

Construction Products Association's chief executive Michael Ankers is unhappy that he has not yet had a formal meeting with Wilson.

"We are now in July and I am still waiting for a meeting with Brian Wilson - how long can the industry wait?" he said.

l Wilson was due to meet industry officials for the first time tomorrow (Thursday) at the Birmingham launch of the Quality Mark scheme.