Speech by GGF Chief Executive Nigel Rees at the House of Commons, Thursday, 18 April 2002

Guest: Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (whose response is below).

Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme (FENSA)

2002 is going to see some of the most major changes for the Glass and Window Industries that have been experienced for some time. We have worked very closely recently with the Government on two projects. One was to promote the change in Standards for Insulating Glass Units to the Industry via a DTI PiI Project and the other was the setting up of FENSA, the Fenestration Self Assessment Scheme with your own Department, Minister. We strongly believe that this is just the role for reputable Trade Federations such as the GGF, to work with Government to promote their industries.

A great deal has been achieved in a very short space of time with regard to FENSA and once bedded in, we feel the extension of the scope and the enlargement of the catchment area could be considered. We would hope to see closer discussions with the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Assembly so that acceptance of FENSA may be achievable in their localities.

For FENSA to be fully effective it needs to be readily recognised and understood by the consumer. We would seek additional support from Government, through Local Authorities and the media to spread this message.


VAT

The UK Window Industry has a turnover of about £2 billion per year and in line with the introduction of Approved Document L, replacement windows will be the largest category of energy efficiency expenditure for the foreseeable future. In the 2000 Budget, some energy saving measures were granted a lower rate; but not the major energy saver, replacement windows. We believe low-emissivity glass should now be considered as an energy saving measure deserving the lower VAT rate. Low-E glass has no other purpose than to save energy.

This reduction in VAT linked with FENSA would also be a further step forward in the crusade to rid the industry of the less reputable 'cowboy' installer. With the need to register with FENSA or seek Building Approval and without the ability to reduce his prices 'for a cash payment - don't worry about VAT!!' his main weapon would have been removed from his armoury.


GLASS Charter

The Glass and Glazing Federation sees Safety as paramount. We put a great deal of time and effort into assisting our Members to promote Safety via our Health and Safety Manual, Codes of Practice and Safety Videos. Following on from the Deputy Prime Minister's initiative to 'Revitalise Health and Safety', the Glass and Glazing Federation in conjunction with the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation launched GLASS Charter (Goal: Less Accidents, Safer Sites). We are now promoting this initiative through our Membership and have taken on a Health and Safety Adviser to work closely with our Members.

The Industry is showing that it can police itself and move forward to improve on an already good safety record. It would hope that all encompassing legislation would not be considered that may increase red tape and hamper the successful voluntary initiatives already underway.


Fire Resistant Glazing Installers

We have supported fully, the revision of Approved Document B and in particular the initiative to introduce guidance on certified installer schemes. It has long been a concern, that in the application of fire-resistant glazed systems, the efforts of the specifiers, manufacturers and system suppliers, can be easily undone if the installation of these systems is not undertaken correctly. We believe this guidance should now go further and that it should be mandatory that all fire-resistant glazed systems installations should only be undertaken by a member of a certified installer scheme. The importance is so great and the implications so dire from an incorrect installation, that this should carry the same importance as gas installation and CORGI.


Parking for Emergency Glazing Contractors

A major problem, being experienced by our Emergency Glazing Contractors seems to be moving from just London where it began, to the whole country. When you are replacing a damaged shop front, you need your vehicle, which is transporting the glass, as near as possible to the area where the work is to be undertaken. We have been in consultation with the HSE who also believe that, where possible, the distance the glass is carried should be kept to a minimum. The problem arises when the closest place for the vehicle to park is in a no parking area and in minimising the distance to move the glass, the company receives a parking fine. This is a major disadvantage to some companies who, while protecting their staff and the general public are amassing huge fines. We would seek some form of dispensation for glass carrying vehicles, fitted with frails (The framework on the side of a vehicle that holds the glass) while undertaking emergency repair work, from parking fines.


Training and Skills Shortages

There is great concern within the Glass and Window Industry that the current workforce is ageing and retiring and not being replaced in similar numbers by new entrants. We need a steady supply of school leavers not only to top up the numbers leaving but to fill the vacancies where the Industry is progressing. The Glass and Glazing Federation takes this problem very seriously and has produced a careers leaflet and set up a Network of Training Providers which it launched at the House eighteen months ago.

We would have hoped that schools and colleges would have welcomed input from Industry to promote careers, but in fact, this is not the case. Schools and colleges see their students as a lucrative resource and would rather keep them on to maintain their funding. There is a need to target those individuals more suited to Industry than Further Education and direct them accordingly.

I would now like to ask the Minister to comment on these points.

Response by Alan Whitehead

Thank you for inviting me to this splendid lunch and for the opportunity to respond briefly to the concerns you have raised.

This year marks what I believe will be a turning point in the image of the industry, and I would agree with Nigel that it is a turning point in the image of the industry.

As you probably are aware the UK has signed up to deliver to the KYOTO agreement for the reduction of CO2 emission which contributes to the global warming.

First of all, the Parts L1 and L2 Regulations will go towards ensuring among other things our planet is maintained in a good condition for our future generations to enjoy. We are now becoming part of that history.

Moreover our commitment in achieving this would lead to other nations following our example. I am not sure if Nigel, when he became chief executive knew he would become a global warming guru.

The GGF in association with other interested parties have set up a self-regulatory scheme to enable installers to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations.
The Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA) - will be the first time the whole of the industry has got together to develop a competence scheme to which all reputable firms and individuals can sign up to. I must say that as a politician I am more familiar with defenestration as opposed to fenestration.

I see this as a real step forward, and I congratulate all those involved with this project, for the imagination and energy to bring this scheme to fruition in such a short space of time - well done!
I believe that the message is getting through, but my Department will be happy to continue to work with FENSA to ensure that the message - and more importantly - the right message - is getting through to installers and the general public, and that the scheme develops to meet its full potential.

We all know how important it is going to be to achieve our targets in spite of the puzzlement and confusion this may have caused albeit some of this confusion has been deliberate.

Although we are into a new era for glazing, many old issues remain the same. One perennial concern, as Nigel has mentioned, is over VAT - and Nigel has argued for reductions for low-e glass. This builds on the argument over many years, that reductions in VAT will help bona fide firms beat the cowboys.

You will all recall that the Working Group on Combating Cowboy Builders recommended in its 1999 report a reduction in the rate of VAT to 5%, to level the playing field for reputable firms. The recent report on the evaluation of Quality Mark pilot schemes again flagged the issue.

There, I have to say, are no easy solutions to the problem. Cowboy builders can and do charge VAT. The fact is that Mr & Mrs Cowboy builder go to Spain with their VAT instead of paying it to the treasury. Further, any rate reduction would need to be considered in the context of the potential revenue loss, which remains unclear.

Nevertheless Brian Wilson recently wrote to Treasury colleagues endorsing the evaluation group's findings and asking what could be done on this point.

However, you are as well aware as I am of the pressing demands from other sectors of the economy - not least health and education. It will be the job of the Chancellor in consultation with the rest of the Government, to determine how limited resources can be best deployed.

I am delighted that the GGF sees safety as paramount and so do I. Indeed, it was with safety in mind that we restructured the handling of health and safety within government. We retained building regulations and health and safety sponsorship in DTLR at a time when construction went to DTI, and brought in responsibility for Fire from the Home Office.

So for the first time we have a directorate dedicated to delivering safety across the board. We intend to build on this over the coming months. Wherever possible, we will indeed work with voluntary schemes, and avoid legislation.

The FENSA scheme, with what will be, I believe, a very wide membership, will be an excellent vehicle for promoting health and safety in the industry. But we will legislate where it proves necessary to get the job done.

You have stated that it should be mandatory to be a member of a certified installer scheme should only undertake fire resistant glazed systems. I am very keen to expand membership of such schemes wherever possible.

I hope that good clients would always use such installers, not only for the protection of the occupants of buildings, but to ensure that a proper job of work is done.

I agree with you that a lot can be done voluntarily, but as yet I have not enough evidence to show that matters are bad enough to necessitate a mandatory scheme. However, we will keep this under review, and should such evidence be presented, we will certainly act.

Nigel, you argue for a dispensation for vehicles parked by emergency glazing contractors in no parking areas.

We do realise that it can be extremely frustrating to receive a parking penalty in such contentious circumstances. Certainly, the fact that health & safety require close proximity between the vehicle and the window underlines the frustration. However this would need to be dealt with the local authority based on the individual circumstances.

Finally, and in some ways, most importantly, we come to training and skill shortages in the construction industry. The first problem that we face is the bad image the industry has for young people. We can overcome this in a number of ways.

First, we must promote diversity. Not enough women or ethnic minorities are entering construction, and we a losing out on a valuable pool of potentially committed labour, which bring new approaches to their work.

Secondly, we must improve working conditions. It is no good expecting the best, even of those who are not keen on academic life, to join the industry, if they are forced to endure dangerous site conditions, unsociable hours, and mediaeval working facilities. If that's what they want I'd advise them to become a Member of Parliament.

Thirdly, we must ensure the maximum take up of technology to help overcome the shortages. Glazing is an ideal example of the use of pre-fabricated units; but how often is your work impeded by design, which does not recognise the benefits of prefabrication?

And lastly there needs to be greater social status I believe attached to the industry.

The development of schemes such as FENSA will go some way to help restore pride in this trade but more needs to be done. I do not think that this is simply a matter of siphoning off people from school earlier; it is about changing the face of British construction. I am pleased to say that glazing is rising to the challenge offered, and I will be pleased to work with you in the future to take this venture forward.