Tories promise consistency for construction

On Tuesday the Conservative Party put on a conference where key construction industry players could raise their concerns with Prisk, shadow minister for local government Robert Syms and shadow secretary of state for trade and industry Alan Duncan.

Prisk, a chartered surveyor by background, told QS News the conference covered issues including late payment, skills shortages and rising costs. But the biggest issue that came out is the "conflicting signals" coming from the Labour government.

"On the one hand they're being told to build more houses, for example, and then the Building Regulations come out and make that far more complicated. Government departments don't talk to each other and often give out conflicting signals," he said.

He added that the industry is not getting a clear direction from government and said the Conservatives want to move away from micro-management.

"Certainly one of the things we're hoping to establish is not to tinker, meddle and direct," said Prisk. "Rather we want to provide a sense of strategic purpose so the industry knows where we're going and we don't tell people in business how to run their own enterprises."

Certainly one of the things we’re hoping to establish is not to tinker, meddle and direct

Mark Prisk, Shadow construction minister

Key players from 16 industry bodies attended the conference including deputy chairman of the RICS construction faculty Michael Sullivan, RIBA president Jack Pringle, Major Contractors Group chairman John Spanswick and Construction Industry Council chief executive Graham Watts.

Prisk said he would meet with industry regularly to provide "effective scrutiny" and make sure "the industry's voice is heard".

"I'm aware the construction industry has to make its way over the next few years while the current government is in place, but equally I'm looking to understand what we might want to do if we were elected at the next election," he said.