Ian Lucas (MP for Wrexham) has been confirmed as the new Construction Minister.
He is the ninth person to hold this position in eight years, which should give you some indication of how little the Labour Government cares about the well-being of the industry.
Building Magazine makes the following comment:
Lucas is bit of a newcomer in government circles, having only been assistant whip since October 2008.
Construction is not one of his avowed interests, although as MP for Wrexham he did meet bosses at JCB in January after they sacked 58 workers in his constituency.
He has a distinctly green streak, having asked several questions in parliament about low-carbon buildings and requested that all buildings in the Olympic Park be self-sufficient in energy use.
Photovoltaics are a particular interest – maybe because Sharp’s PV plant in Wrexham employs 600 of his constituents. Although he was relatively unscathed by the expenses scandal, Lucas claimed £1,388 to furnish his London flat. He said: “I regard a bed as an essential item.”
Maybe Ian Lucas will be able to get the industry moving again by pushing for growth in green technologies, but I'm not holding my breath.
I think there's a real case to be made for pursuing a technocratic approach when it comes to appointing ministers for Trade and Industry. Those who've worked in the industry care passionately about getting Construction back on its feet: those who haven't, erm, don't.
