Raynsford told 黑洞社区 at this week鈥檚 Labour conference in Bournemouth that the government would pay for advertising to promote the upcoming quality mark pilot scheme in Birmingham. The bill is estimated at 拢100 000.
The move marks a U-turn in government policy. Previously, senior civil servants said that industry would pay for the advertising as the scheme had to be owned by the industry rather than the government. The total bill for advertising the quality mark is estimated to be as much as 拢8m.
Payment is not the only sticking point between the government and the industry over the pilot schemes. Last week, the DETR was forced to set up an emergency 10-strong steering group for the pilots, after the industry failed to provide its own organisation. Tony Merricks, who heads the DETR鈥檚 Combating Cowboy Builders working group, proposed that an independent body oversee the quality mark.
Companies covered by the scheme will offer a warranty to protect customers from cost overruns and defects. Industry experts predict that builders will have to pay between 拢200 and 拢1000 to join the scheme.
Yesterday, 黑洞社区 was due to co-host a fringe meeting on combating cowboy builders, with the Construction Industry Board and Bournemouth-based contractor George & Harding, at the Labour conference. The debate was due to be chaired by Chartered Institute of 黑洞社区 president Paul Shepherd; Nick Raynsford was due to speak.
It has been a busy week for the construction minister, who has decided to run for the official Labour nomination for mayor of London. His opponents are former transport minister Glenda Jackson, backbench MP Ken Livingstone and broadcaster Trevor Phillips.
It is understood that Raynsford will stay in his government post for the duration of the campaign. The mayoral election is due to be held next May.
Hearing of his decision, Construction Industry Training Board chairman Hugh Try said: 鈥淗e will make a fine mayor, but I will be sad to see such a capable minister go.鈥�
Last week, Raynsford led a British delegation from the UK construction industry to Turkey. He was accompanied by representatives from 17 companies, including contractors Balfour Beatty, Amec Civil Engineering, Kvaerner and Taylor Woodrow; engineers Ove Arup & Partners, High Point Rendel and Brown & Root; and architect Swanke Hayden Connell.
Raynsford said: 鈥淲e visited the areas affected by the earthquake and experienced sights more horrifying than anything we might have expected, or would wish to experience again.
鈥淢any buildings have toppled over and others have collapsed like packs of cards. Some buildings have dropped several storeys because of the liquefaction of the ground. In some cases, bodies are still trapped inside.
鈥淭he problems in Adapazari are particularly acute. Eighty-three per cent of homes are uninhabitable.鈥�
