An early day motion has been tabled calling for improved payment practices in construction before the Olympics.

The motion, proposed by Claire Curtis-Thomas, calls on MPs to amend the Construction Act to afford greater protection to subcontractors.

It has been supported by the All Party Construction Skills and Training Group, and signed by MPs from the three main parties.

The motion was introduced after lobbying from the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group. SEC Group secretary John Nelson said: "This will put added pressure on MPs to use the Construction Act review to sort out payment problems once and for all."

The motion calls for the introduction of a statutory mechanism for defining the amount to be paid and effective protection from upstream insolvencies.