Government agrees to review self-certification

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) have said they are encouraged by the government's decision to review the pilot self-certification scheme for the construction industry after its first year of operation.

Both the FMB and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have argued that the introduction of multiple self-certification schemes across narrow sections of the construction industry will be economically damaging to legitimate small and medium-sized building firms – and could render them uncompetitive with rogue traders. This argument was given further force in August when the suggested arrangement by which Quality Mark members did not have to pay additional fees to FENSA collapsed.

Following a meeting between the FMB/FSB and the Minister responsible for reviewing the scheme, Christopher Leslie, various proposals were discussed that could lead to a significant reduction in the administrative burden imposed by self-certification.

Speaking after the meeting, Ian Davis, Director General of the FMB, said: "It is a good start that the Minister is listening to the general building industry and the representatives of smaller firms. We look forward to being able to work together with the government to develop reforms to the self-certification process.

"We want a self-certification system that ensures compliance with the building regulations without imposing unfair burdens on firms which work in more than one trade and avoids confusing consumers with different levels of vetting, inspection and financial protection."

(CL)