Consistent set of quality standards needed to deal with cowboy builders

11.19.00am GMT Mon 23rd Nov 2009

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Vince Cable will today lead a parliamentary debate on cowboy builders after a series of distressing cases in his Twickenham constituency. He will argue that while tens of thousands of small construction firms and tradesmen do good work, a minority of 'cowboys' who make their customers' lives a nightmare plague the industry.

Vince Cable will urge for the creation of a single quality standards scheme and for council trading standards officers to publish an easily accessible, unified and updated list of known 'rogues' online.

Commenting, Vince Cable said:

"Cowboy builders cause untold distress to thousands of people up and down the country.

"Some of the worst rogues are actually accredited with industry bodies like the Federation of Master Builders.

"The Trust Mark scheme was a step in the right direction, but it is quite toothless and quite a few rogues have successfully signed up.

"What we need is a consistent set of quality standards and for council trading standards officers to have on their website an easily accessible, unified and updated list of known 'rogues' with their court records, disqualifications and phoenix company names.

"This is surely a sensible middle way between overregulation and cowboy capitalism and one that allows decent companies to remain profitable whilst protecting the consumer from distress and financial pain caused by the cowboys."

ENDS