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The second reading of a private members’ bill that aims to do away with the construction industry’s existing retentions system has been delayed again – this time until late October.
The Aldous Bill was originally due to be discussed in April, before being pushed back to 15 June and now to 26 October.
Conservative MP Peter Aldous and the Bill’s backers are keen to avoid the Bill being abandoned as Parliament continues to deal with amendments to the Brexit Bill.
In the meantime, its supporters claim they have won round more MPs.
They claim that one in four now supports the Aldous Bill, joining over 575,000 businesses and members of professional bodies.
However, other industry organisations such as Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) have written to small business minister Andrew Griffiths rejecting the proposed deposit retention scheme because of a lack of consensus among members.
Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) deputy director of business policy & practice, Rob Driscoll, said: "It is fantastic to have such a groundswell of support for the Aldous Bill from MPs. With the Bill now moved to October, the campaign will continue to grow and move from strength-to-strength. Industry is unanimous and united, on the need for reform of retentions. We are working with government and industry to deliver the method and solution within the reform to payment practices that the industry so urgently needs in order to meet government’s industrialisation, growth and prosperity agenda."
Alexi Ozioro, Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) public affairs and policy manager said: "There is a very busy legislative timetable at the moment, especially with Brexit. For the Bill to have been given a later date shows that the government are not ready to end the conversation around retentions reform.
"The broad spectrum of MPs supporting the Bill is very encouraging, and is set to continue to grow. Reforming the poor payment landscape is not a matter of ideology or party loyalties, its common sense."
Peter Aldous introduced a Private Members’ Bill to put retentions in secure deposit schemes six days before the collapse of Carillion.
There are now thought to be over 170 MPs in support, including more than 50 Conservative MPs, and scores more from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party and the DUP, among others.
