§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will respond to the Latham report on the future of the construction industry.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesIn common with the whole of the construction industry, the Government gave a warm welcome in the speech of my noble Friend the Minister for Construction and Planning on 25 July to the thrust of Sir Michael Latham's report. We are now supporting the review implementation forum's work. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has approved an interdepartmental scrutiny of Government's procurement of construction which will respond to Sir Michael's recommendation that Government should commit itself to being a best practice client.
§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the next report from Sir Michael Latham; when he expects to be able to announce his response; what provision is being made for the working parties on the Latham report while he is considering his response; and when he expects to announce whether the Government will introduce legislation to implement the Latham report.
§ Mr. Robert B. JonesThe review implementation forum, chaired by Sir Michael Latham, is due to report on the limited range of issues within its remit to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the end of December. My right hon. Friend will consider the report at a meeting with industry organisations currently fixed for 2 February. Meanwhile, the secretariat of the forum and the working parties will remain in place. We have made it clear that we are prepared in principle to legislate on Sir Michael Latham's proposals subject to agreement on the need for, and form of, such legislation.