Vol. 531 No. 2
24 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has submitted legislative proposals to Government to provide for the licensing or registration of builders and building contractors; when he will announce his proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5155/01]
My Department circulated the draft general scheme of a building control Bill to other Departments for comment before Christmas. The general scheme is being revised in the light of the comments received.
The proposed legislation strengthens the enforcement powers of local building control authorities and the registration of the titles of architect, building surveyor and quantity surveyor. In accordance with standard practice, I cannot disclose details of the proposed legislation until it has been approved by the Government and is drafted and published.
I can inform the House that the proposed legislation will not provide for the registration of builders or contractors. There are two reasons for this. First, the forum for the construction industry is unwilling to amend their draft proposals for the registration of contractors to make the registration system independent of contractors. Second, the forum proposes that all public works contracts only be awarded to registered contractors. Such a restriction could be anti-competitive, inhibiting entry of non-resident contractors into the market. This would be contrary to the Government strategy of encouraging overseas contractors to augment domestic construction capacity by participating in the delivery of construction projects worth £22 billion, contained in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
