BLAIRS Windows of Greenock are shedding jobs because they say they are losing orders to companies who breach government regulations.

The company made eight people redundant this week, and transferred another person to a sister firm in Hillington.

But managing director Alex Gray says other jobs in the 60-strong workforce are at risk if the Scottish Government do not step in to enforce Construction Product Regulations (CPR).

The company refuse to supply units that don’t comply with CPR, but say they are losing business to other firms that ignore the regulations.

Mr Gray, pictured, chairman of the Glass and Glazing Federation Scotland, said the ‘non-compliant’ windows suffer heat loss and noise reduction, are less safe and secure and more expensive to make.

There appears to be confusion over which government is responsible for enforcing CPR.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan has raised the issue with Westminster’s Secretary of State for Department for Communities and Local Government.

He was told CPR enforcement duties are devolved to trading standards bodies in England, Scotland and Wales.

But the Scottish Government’s Local Government and Communities Directorate insisted in a February email: “CPR is the responsibility of the UK Government.”

Mr Gray said today: “Blairs have turned away orders worth £250,000 over the past couple of months because they would have breached guidelines. These orders could have saved jobs.

“It’s also possible people are avoiding us because we won’t break the law.”

He told Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart MSP in an email dated October 13: “We are now at a stage where jobs are at risk due to our refusal to break the law by breaching the CPR.

“This could be resolved in an instant with an official statement from government. Why is no action being taken?”

Mr Gray continued: “We have spent the last three years holding meetings with your colleagues at Historic Environment Scotland over why they continue to issue guidance and specifications that can only be satisfied by breaching the CPR. The matter has also been reported to Trading Standards. Despite all this, nothing has been done and the problem has escalated.

“We manufacture a visually identical product that satisfies the regulations, but your colleagues, for some reason, continue to demand non-compliant products.

“The firms fitting them should be held accountable for replacing these defective windows.”

He received a reply from the Scottish Government ‘public engagement unit’ on October 20, saying his note had been passed to the relevant office for response within 20 working days.

Mr Gray then wrote to Greenock & Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan: “I’m writing to you as I’m concerned that, after 20 days expire, we will receive the latest in a series of letters that say nothing and fail yet again to deal with the issue.”

Mr McMillan told the Tele he has written to the Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland on numerous occasions.

He said: “I have again asked for further meetings to try and move the issue forward. I will continue to do what I can to help Mr Gray.”

Mr Cowan said he had lodged written parliamentary questions with Westminster’s Department for Communities and Local Government in the hope of providing Blairs with clarification.

He said: “I hope the business can obtain the necessary guidance and support required in order for them to move forward and continue to make a positive contribution to the local economy.”

No comment was available from the Scottish Government.

Mr Gray said: “We are continuing to do orders for people who want windows which meet the CPR.

“Meanwhile, we’re also doing our best to help our eight redundant employees get jobs elsewhere.”