Regulations are not suspended despite debate reminds Construction Confederation

The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations are to receive a debate in the House of Commons on May 10.

A Standing Committee made up of 19 MPs of all three parties will debate the CDM Regulations after Conservative leader David Cameron’s tabling of an Early Day Motion calling for them to be annulled.

David Cameron
David Cameron has called for CDM regulations to be annulled

The Standing Committee will be made up of DTI Ministers -although Construction Minister Margaret Hodge has not yet confirmed her attendance-with relevant Opposition Ministers (Conservative Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Liberal Democrat Susan Kramer are likely to attend) and other interested backbenchers.

There is no constitutional requirement to vote on the regulations, but if Ministers decide to vote, the Government will vote for the motion, and the Opposition against. Opposition MPs could potentially vote to annul the regulations but industry sources say the chances of this happening are extremely slim. The most likely outcome is thought to be an agreement to review the CDM regulations after a two-year period.

Meanwhile, the Construction Confederation has reminded contractors that the Commons debate does not mean the regulations are suspended or annulled.

Construction Confederation director of health and safety Shelley Atkinson-Frost said: “It is crucial that contractors and clients appreciate that the revised Regulations apply despite the planned debate. Site health and safety is of paramount importance and there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind over where responsibility lies for ensuring health and safety requirements are in place.”

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