§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last met representatives of the plant hire industry to discuss the Construction Industry Training Board's training levy; and when the working of the training levy was last reviewed. [88228]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisI have not had any meetings with representatives of the plant hire industry but one of my officials met John Coyne, Managing Director of the Hire Association Europe, on 27 November 2002.
The levy rates imposed by the Construction Industry Training Board are reviewed annually in consultation with the industry and are subject to parliamentary approval. The definition of the industry to which the levy applies is reviewed if proposals for a change are made by the industry. The last review took place in 1992.
§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he intends to take as a result of the judgment in Gibbon Equipment Hire and the Construction Industry Training Board. [88258]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe judgment by Mr. Justice Keith concluded that the definition of "contractor's plant" in the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment Order) 1992 was clear, unequivocal and unambiguous. Also that Gibbon Equipment Hire was an employer in the construction industry and therefore required to pay the CITB levy.
However I have agreed to consider whether the hiring out of plant and equipment should continue to be included in the definition of the construction industry and am awaiting proposals from the hire service sector.