Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance his Department has issued to the public on identifying competent builders.

The Department has not issued guidance to consumers on identifying competent builders. However, the Government has endorsed the TrustMark scheme, which identifies local traders who have undergone independent checks for both trade competence and good trading practice. This scheme gives consumers increased confidence and ability to choose registered businesses including builders who adhere to and maintain high standards.

Further information is available for consumers on the Citizens Advice website at: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/find-a-trader-and-check-you-can-trust-them/.

For free information on their rights and how to take a complaint forward, consumers should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/).