UCATT blames CITB for skills card delay

UCATT leader Alan Ritchie is blaming CITB-ConstructionSkills for the smartcard fiasco, which has seen the industry's high-tech version of its skills card delayed for more than a year.

Ritchie said: "It is deeply disappointing that smartcards have been delayed for so long because they will clearly be beneficial for construction workers.

"I believe the delay is almost solely due to the unwillingness of CITB-ConstructionSkills to provide the required information."

A spokesman for ConstructionSkills said: "I'm afraid we are unable to comment on this."

The smartcard is intended to be a forgery-proof CSCS card, which will incorporate an electronic chip detailing workers' qualifications, as well as data from other sources such as Constructing Better Health.

It was originally planned to launch the card this summer, but the project has become bogged down by in-fighting between industry training bodies.