DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2008/230)
issued by COI News Distribution Service. 2 October 2008
The Government
today announced its intention to consult on a potential new
'champion' role for the construction industry.
The Chief Construction Officer, a civil service position, would
serve as the main point of engagement between industry and
Government. The Officer would work with and across government
departments to help to ease the problem of fragmentation of
construction policy across Government.
Full details of the potential terms and scope of the role will be
confirmed following engagement with both industry and public
sector bodies as part of the Operational Efficiency Programme
announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury earlier this
year, but duties could include:
* Working with OGC and other organisations to promote best
practice in construction procurement
* Acting as the main point of engagement between Government and
industry
* Helping to oversee the implementation of Government
policy, such as the Strategy for Sustainable Construction
* Championing the industry's image
* Promoting regulatory consistency across departments
* Helping to co-ordinate the timing of major public sector
construction programmes or projects
* Promoting innovation in the industry
The move comes as part of a response to a key recommendation in
the Construction Matters report by the House of Commons Business
and Enterprise Committee.
Business Secretary John Hutton said:
"Construction is a key sector of the UK economy, generating
nearly 9% of GDP and employing more than 2.8 million people.
"But the construction industry is very broad and almost
uniquely impacted by a wide range of government departments both
through policy and, as a client, through procurement.
"We have known for some time that the industry has felt it
needs more dedicated Whitehall support and for government
departments to be more joined-up and holistic in their approach to
procurement and policy development.
"That is why we have embraced the BERR Committee's
recommendation regarding the creation of a new role to
'champion' the sector and to ensure that Government
remains consistent and focussed in its relationship with this
vital sector."
Notes for Editors:
1. In March 2007 the then Trade and Industry Select Committee
launched its first major enquiry into the UK's construction
industry. It set broad terms of reference, challenged the sector
to demonstrate its strengths, to highlight areas where improvement
was needed and the role Government could play in this
2. The Business and Enterprise Committee report,
"Construction Matters", which was published on 16 July
2008, draws a number of conclusions and makes a number of
recommendations. Central to them is the creation of a new post
within Government of "Chief Construction Officer"
3. The response to the full range of recommendations in the
Select Committee report is due by the end of October
4. Building on the success of the Gershon Efficiency Programme,
the Operational Efficiency Programme forms a key part of the
Government's drive to achieve greater efficiency savings
across public spending, with the potential to deliver billions of
pounds of savings. The Operational Efficiency Programme will be
wide-ranging, focussing initially on 5 strands examining
cross-cutting areas of Government spending. The programme will
deliver its recommendations by Budget 2009. The initial 5
workstrands are:
* Back office and IT;
* Collaborative procurement;
*
Asset management and sales;
* Property and
* Local
incentives and empowerment.
5. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It
promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads
the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets.
It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and
it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory
Reform
7th Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
Public enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215
6740 (for those with hearing impairment)
http://www.berr.gov.uk