Baroness Vadera, in her first interview as construction minister, has promised to make Whitehall sign up to the best practice charter originally produced for the 2012 Olympics.

Vadera, who is the seventh construction minister in as many years, said she hoped to get all spending ministries to commit themselves to using the charter on all projects by 11 June.

She said her aim was to set an example for the rest of the industry on how relations between clients and contractors could be improved, and to show how this would affect project delivery.

She added: “The reputation of this industry is problematic in that respect but I have faith that it can pull together. I don’t see it as a problem that can’t be fixed.”

Vadera said getting Whitehall to meet the 2012 targets would bring client and contractor together at an early stage, which would help to prevent problems arising.

She said: “Following a specific strategy and targets like this will help create an integrated team. I will ensure all government procurement is done in this way.”

Vadera was appointed construction minister in January this year. She has been a member of prime minister Gordon Brown’s inner circle since she joined the Treasury in 1999.

Postscript

See Vadera's first interview - 'Baroness Vadera: Construction minister's first interview'