The month...

4 The rating, out of 10, Sir John Egan gave the construction industry’s attempts to implement recommendations made in his Rethinking Construction report published ten years ago.

10 The number of HSE inspectors who will be recruited to the construction division, bringing the total number to 134.

21 The maximum number of days it will take builders to settle disputes with members of the public under a new independent adjudication service set up by RICS and the FMB.

24 The percentage of contractors that reported a fall in profit margins during the first three months of 2008, according to the latest state of trade survey by the Construction Products Association.

970 The number of jobs cut in just one week as Taylor Wimpey and Redrow Homes became the latest to succumb to the housing slump.

1,000 The number of oak poles on the Scottish Parliament’s facade that need repair or replacement.

1.5bn The cost, in pounds, of implementing Energy Performance Certificates for commercial buildings this year, according to assessors. Government estimates had put the figure at £148m.

11bn The amount, in pounds, of assets Australian contractor Westfield currently has under construction. The contractor says it is still attracting ‘good people’ looking for security despite the credit crunch.