Report condemns blacklist operators

The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee has published its interim report into the blacklisting scandal. And its interim conclusions are damning, describing the activities of blacklisting organisation The Consulting Association (TCA) as “a real live conspiracy”.

The report outlines the roles of three of the most prolific blacklisters, the construction firms Sir Robert MacAlpine Limited (MacAlpine), Skanska and Balfour Beatty, the last described by Ian Kerr, who ran TCA, as “particularly hard-nosed” users.

It emphasises the key role of MacAlpine which it describes as a “major force” and one of the TCA’s “biggest spenders”.

The committee’s main conclusions include deep regret that nobody has been sacked or punished.

Balfour Beatty comes in for particularly harsh criticism. The report says that “while we are sure that [the company] regrets being caught, we were less convinced that management regretted its involvement with the TCA”.

Looking to the future, the committee is unconvinced that blacklisting no longer happens. It intends to focus future submissions on the extent to which the practice continues, both within construction and more widely, particularly in Scotland.

It will also look at compensation for victims and penalties for wrongdoers, including possible barring of offenders from public sector contract work, and on future legislative changes.