Following Labour’s election victory, Tony Blair has reorganised his ministerial team for the next term. With Alun Michael on board, the construction brief will be handled by a senior minister for the first time since 2001.

Alun Michael has been given responsibility for construction within the Department for Trade and Industry. The new Labour government has dropped initial plans to rename the ministry as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry after universal derision.

The move is seen as a step-up for the construction sector as Alun Michael is a minister of state, more senior than his predecessor Nigel Griffiths. This means that the construction brief is with a high level minister for the first time since Nick Raynsford back in 2001.

“He is a minister of state rather than a parliamentary undersecretary, so there is some comfort in that,” said John Nelson, executive secretary of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group. “We will be looking to the new minister to sort out payment once and for all.”

Michael’s official title is minister for industry and the regions. As well as construction, this will see him responsible for enterprise, growth and business investment, regional economies, the Small Business Service, social enterprise, e-commerce and the communications and information industries. Junior minister Barry Gardiner will support Michael on small business issues.

Michael’s predecessor as construction minister Nigel Griffiths moves to deputy leader of the Commons. Former building regulations minister Phil Hope has been moved to education. His successor is likely to be Jim Fitzpatrick or Baroness Andrews.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor