Cash retentions in construction to be debated at Westminster this week

Cash retentions in the construction industry will feature in a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday 27 February and highlight the risks faced by contractors.

The debate has been secured by Alan Brown, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (SNP), and will argue that the Government should decide on a solution to the issue of cash retentions, following their public consultation in 2018.

The debate is expected to highlight the need for legislation that can protect cash retentions and remind of the risk for construction SMEs if no action is taken.

The Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group has been urging the Government to introduce legislation to protect or ring-fence cash retentions to remove the insolvency risk and ensure that retentions are released on time. Together with a consortium led by Pay2Escrow and including a global insurer, a major UK university, industry participants and a specialist technology partner, SEC Group has been supporting the development of a retention deposit scheme (Retention Deposit Clearing House).

The debate is expected to last 90 minutes and it will take place at Westminster Hall at 3pm; it can also be followed at Parliament TV.