Industry professionals and associations have welcomed news of a review into the way Scotland’s £2bn public construction contracts are awarded.

Scottish Building Federation chief executive Michael Levack said: "I strongly welcome this announcement since a review of the public procurement process is long overdue. I hope the review can reach some rapid conclusions so the measures needed to streamline procurement can be implemented as quickly as possible."

He added: "From bitter experience, our members know how much unnecessary cost and inefficiency currently exists in the public procurement system. It cannot be right for so much public money to be swallowed up by burdensome bureaucracy when it ought to be putting shovels in the ground. As far as the construction industry is concerned, reform cannot come soon enough."

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The review was launched by the government as a move to ensure public bodies involved in construction-related procurement remain streamlined and continue to deliver value for money.

It will also address the use of design and technology, energy efficient techniques, materials and eco-friendly construction methods.

Civil Engineering Contractors Association chief executive Alan Watt said: "We welcome this announcement because the procurement burden comes close behind workload security in the major concerns expressed by infrastructure construction businesses across Scotland.

"This review, following on from the Government’s Public Contracts Scotland portal and standard prequalification questionnaire, will hopefully pave the way for more streamlined construction procurement to save money and help preserve jobs."

Construction contracts account for over £2bn of the £9bn Scotland’s public bodies spend each year on procurement.

(IT/GK)