The FPB believes that new Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) Regulations would pass responsibilities from the construction firm to the business having the work carried out.

The challenge, in the form of an Early Day Motion (EDM), was laid by Conservative Leader David Cameron. It calls for the CDM Regulations to be annulled. Now, the FPB is calling on MPs to support the EDM by signing up to it.

The FPB’s Campaigns Manager, Victoria Carson, wrote to the Conservative Party earlier this month to ask for their support and now Conservative Leader David Cameron has tabled a motion opposing the proposals.

Ms Carson said that she is pleased that there will now be a debate about the changes. She said: "Its is pleasing to see that Mr Cameron has taken on board the FPB’s concerns. We believe that the current system of planning permission and building regulations can deliver safety, particularly in design, without passing undue burden onto the client. There is no need for the additional regulations."

Small businesses
Ms Carson added that there is good reason to believe that the changes would prove to be a nightmare for smaller businesses.

She said: "The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) premise that businesses should already be complying with any new duties that will be imposed (under the Health and Safety at Work Act) is regulation by stealth.

"In reality, what smaller business, having building work carried out for the first time, is going to have the slightest idea about what rules and regulations it must comply with?"

Unless there is a political will to oppose the changes to the CDM Regulations, they could come into force in April 2007. Ms Carson wants the changes to be rejected: "The proposed changes must be halted and additional liabilities on smaller businesses must be properly assessed as a better regulation issue."

As a result of the Early Day Motion, a ‘prayer debate’ is likely to take place after the Easter recess (29 March to 16 April).

The prayer debate will be conducted by a Delegated Legislation Committee, comprising MPs representing all parties. A vote will then follow the debate as to whether to revoke, rather than annul, the Regulations. This is because the timing of the debate will post date 6 April, when the Regulations are due to come into force.

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Susie Hughes
The Editor © Hardhatter 2007