2

The amount, in billions of pounds, that bogus self-employment costs the government every year in lost tax revenues and national insurance contributions.

The Exchequer will be pleased to hear that UCATT is doing its bit to stamp out dole cheating and bogus self-employment on building sites around the country.

The construction union is asking local authorities to give building contracts only to companies that can guarantee that their subbies don't take on staff who claim job seeker's allowance while working, or falsely self-employ workers as a way to avoid paying national insurance, pension contributions and holiday and sick pay.

UCATT has already persuaded the Scottish Parliament to deny building contracts in Scotland to companies that cannot provide such a guarantee.

20

The percentage of construction, by value, that should be delivered by integrated teams by December 2004, according to the Strategic Forum. The industry body set up by the government last year produced its first report last month, Accelerating Change, and has set out two tough targets, on partnering and recruitment.

The recruitment target is to help the industry attract and retain 300,000 qualified workers by 2006 and increase applications to built environment courses in further and higher education by 50%.

As his parting shot to the industry on leaving his post as chairman of the Strategic Forum, Sir John Egan criticised the industry's overtime culture.

The average working week in construction is 46.5 hours and the Strategic Forum sees this as one of the main barriers to recruiting talented young management to the industry.

4.6

The value of work, in billions of pounds, carried out in 2001 by UK contractors - a £700m increase on 2000. It includes such projects as Skanska's Stockholm Centre for Physics, Astronomy and Biotechnology (pictured).

66

The percentage by which the Health & Safety Executive plan to reduce deaths and major injuries in construction, by 2010.

To hit the target, the HSE has spent the last two months setting out its new priorities for the next 12 months. They include falls from heights (the biggest single cause of death in construction), transport accidents, manual handling, hand arm vibration syndrome, noise-induced hearing loss, cement dermatitis, and the manufacturers and suppliers of falsework and formwork.

Inspectors will also be looking closely at the management structures on major projects.

Sole traders and smaller firms will also come under the spotlight, although bigger firms don't get off scot-free. Chief inspector of construction Kevin Myers urged them to encourage subcontractors to work more safely.

The HSE also released its long-awaited consultation document Revitalising Health and Safety last month. Interested parties can view the document at www.hse.gov.uk/disdocs/construction.htm

190

The amount, in millions of pounds, that proposed changes to the Building Regulations could bring into construction every year, according to a government report.

A consultation paper from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has proposed changes to Part M, which relate to access and facilities for disabled people.

Owners and occupiers will have to incorporate the changes, which are predicted to cost £120m a year for all new buildings, according to the report. Existing buildings will also have to comply when undergoing a change of use, which will cost something in the region of £70m every year.

The alterations will make ramps, automatic doors and hearing loops obligatory in all newly built public and commercial buildings. And owners of existing buildings will have to take all reasonable steps to include these facilities when they are refurbishing.