MPs to question leading construction firm on blacklisting
22 January 2013
On Tuesday 22 January The Committee will hear evidence from The Director of Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, in relation to its inquiry into Blacklisting in employment
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- The inquiry: Blacklisting in employment
Background
In 2009, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) raided the offices of The Consulting Association, based on allegations of blacklisting. The ICO found that the owner, Mr Ian Kerr, held details on 3,213 construction workers and traded their personal details for profit. Mr Kerr's database was used by over 40 construction companies and included information about construction workers' personal relationships, trade union activities and employment history. There is evidence to suggest that these files were used for vetting potential employees.
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd is one of the UK's leading building and civil engineering firms. The late Ian Kerr, in his oral evidence to the Committee, made it clear that McAlpine as a firm and Mr McAlpine as an individual were intimately involved in the foundation of The Consulting Association (TCA) in 1993, and continued to play a substantial role in the operation of TCA until its closure in 2009.
Witness
Tuesday 22 January
At 2.30pm in Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
- Cullum McAlpine, Director, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
- Peter Brinley-Codd, Head of Legal Services, Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd