A case brought against construction giant Carillion in the so-called ‘blacklisting’ affair will be subject to a full two-day hearing in front of a High Court judge, it has been decided.
The decision was made by Mr Justice Singh at an Employment Appeal Tribunal hearing in London, in the case brought by electrician Dave Smith. The judge noted that the case could have a legal importance “going well beyond this case or even blacklisting”.
John Hendy QC, acting for Mr Smith, argued that the original tribunal decision to dismiss Mr Smith’s appeal for unfair dismissal – in essence that Carillion was not liable because he was employed by an agency – is in violation of the Human Rights Act and Articles 8 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and that these pieces of legislation should apply to all ‘workers’ and not just direct employees.
Figures from the NHBC have revealed that private-sector housing registrations in the UK had their best month for over a year in July, with 8,105 registrations. However, that still leaves private-sector registrations down 10% for the rolling quarter May to July compared to the same period last year (21,574 and 23,996 respectively).
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment has called on the Government to implement what it has termed 'a procurement revolution' to deliver significantly better value for money across the public sector.
North Wales-based building contractor Watkin Jones and Son Ltd has been ordered to pay a total of £548,000 following the death of a roofing worker who fell through a roof while working on the construction of the Menai Centre in Bangor, Gwynedd.
Skidby Windmill, situated near to Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is said to be England’s most northerly working windmill, and the only one north of the Humber. About 25 years ago, there was a near-fatal catastrophe, when one of the sail beams broke off during milling, on a Bank Holiday afternoon, and crashed through the roof of the adjoining building, which was full of tourists!