19th December 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News that contractors under investigation for bid rigging by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) will have to wait a further six months for a decision on whether they are found guilty and fined is totally unacceptable, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said:
“It is a total nonsense that the OFT is dragging its feet to make up its mind to decide whether or not to fine the 112 firms under investigation. We had been told a decision would be made in January so a delay of a further six months beggars belief.”
Berry continued:
“Firms have a right to know the outcome as soon as possible as it is a huge cloud over their business and reputation. To be left hanging in a policy vacuum is the worst possible of all outcomes. Any fines also need to be proportionate at a time when we are going into recession, as the last thing we want now is to create yet more unemployment in the construction sector at a time when we should be doing all we can to support the industry.”
