Through its contacts with ministers, MPs
and civil servants and its use of professional parliamentary experts,
the HVCA is able to make its voice heard in the "corridors
of power" of Westminster and Whitehall, as well as Edinburgh,
Cardiff, Belfast and Brussels.
Some elements of the Association's representational functions are
carried out via its membership of the Specialist Engineering Contractors'
(SEC) Group,
an umbrella body which represents
the interests of construction-related specialist contractors.
The Association is also active in making formal responses
to Government consultations on issues that impact on the interests
and operations
of its member
companies.
Consultation on LPG Safety
The Gill Report proposed a new safety regime for the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in industrial and commercial premises. HSE invited views on the principles within the recommendations. HVCA supported the basic principle of a safety audit for all gas installations in non domestic premises within the UK, with some reservations about the additional administrative burdens proposed
Consultation on changes to Building Regulations Parts L & F
In June 2009, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consulted on amendments to the Building Regulations to achieve improved energy efficiency standards.
Click here to view the consultation.
Consultation on proposals for amending the Approved Document J Building Regs
The Government wishes to ensure that construction workers engaged in an employment relationship are taxed appropriately and, in July 2009, published a consultation outlining its proposal for addressing the problem of false self-employment in construction. HVCA responded jointly with the Agency Alliance suggesting that one of the consequences of the approach outlined could be the effective marginalisation of employment businesses in construction industry-related specialist engineering contracting. The consequences of this would strike at the very heart of the way this sector does business.
Click here to view the consultation
Workers Memorial Day
The increasing commemoration of Workers Memorial Day, first commemorated in the UK in 1992, has led to growing calls for the government to provide the day with some form of official recognition. A consultation was published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in July 2009.
False self-employment in construction
The Government wishes to ensure that construction workers engaged in an employment relationship are taxed appropriately and, in July 2009, published a consultation outlining its proposal for addressing the problem of false self-employment in construction. HVCA responded jointly with the Agency Alliance suggesting that one of the consequences of the approach outlined could be the effective marginalisation of employment businesses in construction industry-related specialist engineering contracting. The consequences of this would strike at the very heart of the way this sector does business.
Pariamentary inquiry into "Engineering"
The Association's written evidence to the Committee is published on the Committee's website (441 pages) HVCA raised the issue of poor provision of accredited training in building services engineering and the need for training funds and a national skills academy
UK Commission for Employment and Skills call for evidence
Responding to the UKCES call for evidence to inform its collective measures study, HVCA gave its views in October 2008 on employer investment in skills and offered suggestions as to how to promote employer investment in the skills base.
EU Construction Products Regulation
The proposed Regulation will replace the Construction Products Directive The aim of the revision is to address some perceived problems with the text of the current Directive and the ways in which it has been implemented, rather than to completely revise the practical processes for CE marking of products, which are already established in all Member States.
The main implication for the UK in the proposals is that it will become mandatory for construction products which fall under the scope of the Regulation to make a declaration of their performance, and to carry the CE marking to demonstrate this, before they can be put on the market in the UK. Currently the UK is one of four Member States that has voluntary CE marking.
Click here for a summary of responses to consultation.
Agency Workers Directive
In July 2009, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) consulted on the implementation of the Agency Workers Directive (Directive 2008/104/EC) on conditions for temporary (agency) workers. Member States have until 5 December 2011 to implement. BIS proposes to implement on the basis of the CBI/TUC agreement of May 2008 which allows for equal treatment to apply after a temporary agency worker has been in a given job for 12 weeks. HVCA raised several concerns in its response.
Click here for a summary of responses to consultation.
In October 2009, the Government consulted further on its proposed approach to implementation of the Directive, including draft Regulations. HVCA responded, reiterating its concerns.
Blacklisting of trade unionists
In July 2009, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) sought views on draft Regulations to outlaw the blacklisting of trade unionists. The Government believes that trade unions, and those who belong to them and participate in their activities, play a legitimate role in any democratic society. It believes that the blacklisting of trade unionists should have no place in the conduct of employment relations in this country..
CBI survey on 2010 National Minimum Wage
In July 2009 the CBI began gathering evidence for the Low Pay Commission on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and on proposals to bring apprentice pay into the NMW framework. HVCA was invited to contribute its views.
Delivering skills that work for Wales
In late 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government consulted on proposals for a post-16 fees policy, the creation of sector priorities funding and the future of individual learner accounts intended to establish a more demand led and responsive skills system. HVCA submitted a detailed response, emphasising the need for better funding provision of apprenticeships and adult learning.
Contact
For information on the Association's public affairs
activity, please contact Brigitte Faubert on
020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk) or Jack
McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk.)
