National funding is still the big issue

Although a pilot regional health scheme is set to go ahead, funding of a national scheme remains the key issue.

The National Federation of Builders said that it "would be prepared to consider a range of proposals, one of which might be some form of levy operating on a similar basis to the training levy".

A Construction Confederation spokesman said this did not imply a payroll levy. All parties to the confederation are opposed to that. But it might involve a levy on materials.

Funding options proposed in a UCATT discussion paper include:

n A payroll levy.

n A materials "tithe".

n A levy on contract price.

n Government funding.