UCATT calls for contract compliance

George Brumwell, general secretary of UCATT, has called for a revival of the contract compliance principles that held sway in public sector procurement procedures in the late 1980s.

Contract compliance involves the award of public sector contracts being tied to guarantees of the enforcement of best practice on, generally, employment and industrial issues.

"I think the contract compliance concept may soon resurface, said Brumwell. "There is a strong case for the government to introduce these procedures in all public sector contracts.

"Although there has been a bit of a dip in the market, the public sector share has increased. The government has tremendous purchasing power. We will be calling for contract compliance procedures in its contracts."

"Contract compliance can dramatically change the health and safety culture. It can, at a stroke, get rid of bogus self-employment. And there are further dividends in training and social inclusion," he added.

Brumwell said the British Airports Authority is a client already setting an example in these areas. "If the private sector can do it, then government action is long overdue," he declared.