BBC RADIO 4

Today Weekdays 6-9am and Saturdays 7-9am

Page last updated at 08:18 GMT, Tuesday, 22 September 2009 09:18 UK

Industry 'has put its house in order'

Advertisement

The Office of Fair Trading has fined 103 construction firms a total of £129.5m following an investigation into illegal "bid-rigging".

Defending the construction industry, Stephen Ratcliffe, director trade body the UK Contractors Group, told Today presenter Justin Webb that while the "very large" fines were warranted for historical mistakes, the industry has since "put its house in order".

And, responding to claims that the tax payer had lost out because of the collusion, he argued that "it was not an attempt to swindle the tax payer" in the majority of cases.

SEE ALSO

Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific