The Construction Products Association has welcomed the appointment of Paul Morrell as the government’s first Chief Construction Adviser (CCA). Commenting on the appointment, the Association’s Chief Executive, Michael Ankers said: ‘We very much welcome the appointment of Paul Morrell as the Chief Construction Adviser. He brings to this new role a vast experience of the industry and is respected in government and across the industry.

He is the ideal person to make a real difference on the issues that were identified for the CCA and I am sure the Parliamentary Select Committee, which first recommended that this post be created, will feel pleased that such a senior person has been identified to fill the role.

‘What is key, however, is that Paul focuses on a limited number of key issues that are critical to government and industry at this difficult time, in particular;

• demonstrating to government and the other main political parties the importance of capital projects on bringing the country out of recession and sustaining long term economic recovery

• Improving public sector construction procurement so that at a time of financial constraint we can ensure that the money that is available delivers more and better value projects

• The role of the industry in delivering the low carbon agenda is fully recognised and in particular we have a clear long term strategy, suitably resourced, to deliver the improvements that are needed to the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock in order that we meet our carbon reduction commitments.

‘It is vital that in order to address these and other strategic issues that Paul is given full support from both government and the industry, and the Construction Products Association looks forward to playing its part in this.’