§ 33. Mr. Chapmanasked the Attorney-General what representations he has received from the construction industry following the Lord Chancellor's Law Reform Committee's report on latent damage, Cmnd. 9390.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor's Department has received comments from a number of sources. Among those in the construction industry from whom comments have been received were the Building Employers Confederation, the Federation of Master 15 Builders, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Association of Consultant Architects, the Association of Consulting Engineers and the Institution of Civil Engineers.
§ Mr. ChapmanAs my hon. and learned Friend will know, many parts of the construction industry are concerned that the Law Reform Committee's report does not deal adequately with the law of liability relating to latent damage in buildings. Will he promise to see representatives of the industry, as I am sure he will agree that it is in the interests of everybody—not just the builders, but the local authorities and the owners and occupiers of buildings— that those latent damage problems are sorted out on a mutual satisfactory basis?
§ The Solicitor-GeneralAs my hon. Friend knows, responsibility for the civil law, including this part of it, lies with my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor. While not accepting the strictures in my hon. Friend's question about the way in which the Law Reform Committee dealt with the law of liability, and bearing in mind that it was asked to look at the accrual of a right to an action in a case of latent damage, I think that those on behalf of whom he speaks know that they have had a full opportunity to make representations to the Lord Chancellor, but if they want to make further representations, I am sure that my noble Friend will be willing to receive them.