A spokesman for Jim Fitzpatrick, MP for Poplar and Canning Town, said union representatives had voiced concerns over conditions on sites in one of the UK's biggest boom areas for construction. "Jim's view is that things need tightening up in the industry," he said.
Fitzpatrick plans to write to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Construction Safety calling for a meeting to discuss his concerns over safety on sites, and alleged abuses of workers' holiday rights. This follows claims by UCATT that workers are being forced to declare that they are
self-employed so that they become ineligible for holiday pay.
If his fellow MPs support the cause, Fitzpatrick is likely to lobby for legislation. He is also expected to seek a meeting with trade secretary Stephen Byers.
