HC Deb 21 March 2001 vol 365 c248W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to create a statutory UK system of registration for electrical contractors. [154307]

Ms Beverley Hughes

None. The voluntary National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting already has wide coverage among electrical contractors. The Quality Mark and Constructionline, the Government schemes for assessment and approval of contractors in the domestic and non-domestic sectors, are also operated on a voluntary basis. This gives them the necessary flexibility to react to changing circumstances in their respective markets.

Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Trasport and the Regions what steps he is taking to promote the consistent use of the construction line system of registration for electrical contracting companies and to void duplication with the Health and Safety Executive's Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme. [154388]

Ms Beverley Hughes

Constructionline, the Government's register of approved contractors and consultants, is developing co-operative arrangements with the local government-operated Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS). The aim is to encourage clients to make efficient links between Constructionline and the more detailed health and safety database on CHAS and to avoid duplication for contractors which are registering on the two schemes.