Construction Sector Deal

Alan Brown Excerpts
Thursday 5th July 2018

(6 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Harrington of Watford Portrait Richard Harrington
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The review by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Sir Oliver Letwin) is considering those points, and I am sure that we will be delighted to report the review’s progress to the House.

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
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As a chartered civil engineer, I welcome the principle of the construction sector deal. On protecting the supply chain, the Government must deal with two key issues: the elimination of cash retentions; and, as the Minister knows from his previous role, the effect that multi-employer pensions are having on subcontractors, particularly plumbers. Will the Minister review the Multi-employer Pension Schemes Bill—my private Member’s Bill—and have a word with the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Hexham (Guy Opperman), to ask him to take on board the measures in my Bill?

Lord Harrington of Watford Portrait Richard Harrington
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We are currently considering the entire policy on retentions, as I am sure that the hon. Gentleman knows. We are reviewing the responses to our consultation and considering the options for future policy.