Legislation to improve payment practices in the construction industry brought before the Assembly by Finance Minster Sammy Wilson this week has been welcomed by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Northern Ireland.

The FMB's latest State of Trade Survey revealed a disappointing decline in conditions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Northern Irish construction sector, confirming that the SME construction sector in the province remains in deep trouble.

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Maire Nawaz, Director of FMB Northern Ireland, said: "SME workloads continue to decline in the construction sector in Northern Ireland so it is extremely damaging that when these companies do win work, they are all too often being subjected to tardy payment practices by the main contractors. Late payment can, in the worst cases, be the deciding factor to whether or not a construction firm survives or folds. Government must do everything in its power to improve conditions for construction SMEs in Northern Ireland and therefore this move by the Finance Minister is very welcome indeed – I just hope its impact is felt sooner rather than later."

(CD)