Reforms needed to stimulate the Construction Industry

Federation of Master Builders urges government to introduce reforms to stimulate the construction sector to get growth back in the economy.

Brian Berry, FMB chief executive, said: "The Government will find it very difficult to get sustained growth in the economy while the construction industry remains depressed."

"Construction is essential to the wellbeing of the wider economy because of the variety and quantity of jobs it creates from apprentice bricklayers to world-leading architects."

"Steps the Government could take now to stimulate construction to help create jobs in the economy should include abandoning its plans to introduce VAT on heritage building, cut VAT on property repairs, take action on banks that discriminate against construction firms and their clients, open up public sector procurement to small firms, and introduce meaningful incentives to drive private domestic retrofitting."

"The construction industry holds the key to recovery, which is why the government needs to invest in capital projects rather than just focusing its attention on budget cuts."

Mr Berry concluded: "Until we get builders building again the economy is not going to recover."