ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

Bill Goodall, manager of membership services at Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV, said the Scottish building industry was plagued by the problem and it was time action was taken.

He said: "The branches will report back with information about the effects and consequences of rogue traders and this can be used to persuade the Scottish executive that regulation is needed."

Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV, a federal body that encompasses 20 independent associations representing 1400 companies, wants a mandatory system of contractor registration introduced and is calling for the creation of a formal list, or registration body, so that customers know which firms can be relied on.

Contractors would be required to pass minimum criteria to get on the list.

Goodall said legislation was essential to force firms to take part because the voluntary scheme in England had not been successful.

Information on rogue traders can be used to persuade the executive that regulation is needed

Bill Goodall, Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV

He said: "For us the problem of cowboy builders is one of the most important nuts to crack. It is not simply a question of bad workmanship but the poor image generated by bad publicity in the press is deterring parents from encouraging their children to become apprentices." Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV, which is recognised by local and national government, is also in negotiations with local authorities to try to ensure that the cowboy issue is at the top of their agendas.

Goodall confirmed that Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV was holding regular discussions with the executive's minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, Wendy Alexander.

A spokesperson for the executive said: "The Scottish executive is supportive of the aims of a licensing scheme proposed by a number of Scottish trade associations, as part of its wider support for self-regulation by industry."

Scottish ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV's cowboy campaign comes only a year after it attacked the industry's lack of representation in the Holyrood parliament.