Safety bodies and industry groups have attacked the government鈥檚 delay in publishing a response to Rita Donaghy鈥檚 inquiry into construction deaths

When the report was published in July, the Department of Work and Pensions said it would respond 鈥渓ater in the year鈥. This was understood to mean that Yvette Cooper, the work and pensions secretary, would issue a response to the report before Christmas.

Tony O鈥橞rien, national secretary of the Construction Safety Campaign, said: 鈥淭he department is insisting on more consultations, but we need a response, not more discussions with the same people Rita Donaghy met. This delay is totally unnecessary.鈥

The report contained 28 recommendations about how to minimise deaths in the industry.