Construction union UCATT have welcomed the publication of the Government's consultation, which will lead to laws outlawing the blacklisting of workers.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "UCATT are pleased that the Government are pressing ahead with introducing the regulations which will outlaw the disgraceful practice of blacklisting once and for all. However we are disappointed that the consultation document fails to recommend any compensation for existing victims of blacklists."

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In 1999 the Government's Employment Rights Act outlawed blacklisting however the necessary regulations, which would have ended the practice, were never implemented, due to a perceived lack of hard evidence that the practice was still occurring.

In March this year the Information Commissioners Office revealed that the Consulting Association was operating a blacklist of construction workers and that over 40 major companies were paying for its services.

Ian Kerr, the Head of the Consulting Association is due to be sentenced on 16 July at Knutsford Crown Court, because of breaches to the Data Protection Act. He faces an unlimited fine.

The consultation is being conducted by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and will close on 18 August. The Government is committed to introducing the regulations outlawing blacklisting this autumn.

(CD/JM)