CECA meets with MPs over civils contractors' plight

A team from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) has visited a clutch of MPs to warn them that a downturn in the civils sector is "bad news for Britain".

The lobbying group has visited 12 MPs and MSPs since late November, and plans to visit a further seven in the New Year.

It has highlighted five measures proposed by the government in the Pre Budget Report that will provide relief for contractors in tough times. They include:

• The HMRC’s Business Payment Support Service
• 10-day payment by public sector clients
• The Small Business Finance Scheme
• SME access to government contracts
• Accelerated investment in infrastructure

And it warned that the consequences of neglecting the civils sector were reduced capacity in the industry, lost skills, and rising tender prices when the economy recovers.