The FPB's Campaigns Manager, Victoria Carson, wrote to the Conservative Party earlier this month to ask for their support and now Conservative Leader David Cameron has tabled a motion opposing the proposals. 

Ms Carson said that she is pleased that there will now be a debate about the changes. 

"Its is pleasing to see that Mr Cameron has taken on board the FPB's concerns. We believe that the current system of planning permission and building regulations can deliver safety, particularly in design, without passing undue burden onto the client. There is no need for the additional regulations."  

EDM 1151 calls for an address to be made to the Queen praying for the CDM Regulations to be annulled*. Now, the FPB is calling on MPs to support the EDM by signing up to it. Ms Carson said there is good reason to believe that the changes would prove to be a nightmare for smaller businesses. 

"The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) premise that businesses should already be complying with any new duties that will be imposed (under the Health and Safety at Work Act) is regulation by stealth." 

"In reality, what smaller business, having building work carried out for the first time, is going to have the slightest idea about what rules and regulations it must comply with?" she asked. 

Unless there is a political will to oppose the changes to the CDM Regulations, they could come into force in April 2007. Ms Carson wants the changes to be rejected: "The proposed changes must be halted and additional liabilities on smaller businesses must be properly assessed as a better regulation issue."