1.17 I therefore recommend that:

1. The Department of the Environment, and specifically its Construction Sponsorship Directorate, be designated by Ministers as the lead Department for implementing any recommendations of this Report addressed to Government which Ministers accept. The DOE should act closely with the Departments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and also with individual procurer Departments.

2. Government should commit itself to being a best practice client. It should provide its staff with the training necessary to achieve this and establish benchmarking arrangements to provide pressure for continuing improvements in performance.

3. A Construction Clients' Forum should be created to represent private sector clients.