Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that approved building inspectors are (a) independent and (b) not subject to conflicts of interest.

Regulation 9 of the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010 sets out requirements for the independence of approved inspectors. In particular it prohibits approved inspectors from having any financial or professional interest in building work for which they are carrying out building control functions. This regulation is supplemented by guidance in the Approved Inspectors Code of Conduct issued by CICAIR Limited, the body designated by the Secretary of State to carry out his executive and administrative functions. Approved inspectors are required to comply with both regulation 9 and the Code of Conduct. CICAIR limited is responsible for the approval and re-approval of approved inspectors and carries out periodic audits of their operations. Part of these processes is to assess that approved inspectors are able to comply with regulation 9.