Be in no doubt the APHC mean business. They have retained Fenwick Elliott in the matter. Fenwick Elliott “is secure in its view that there is still a case to answer”. They also clearly have the expertise to argue the case, which appears to hinge on the argument that Corgi are acting Ultra-Vires [Corgi is far exceeding its authority], and, placing Registered Installers at a competitive disadvantage.

We are handicapped by lack of information. The only news we have is from the APHC website, the latest being the news release dated September 16 2005. We have no choice but to rely on the limited information available, for what is manifestly in the public interest:

As far as we know only the APHC are involved. It is possible that other trade and professional associations may not be empowered to get involved or they are simply cowards. Whatever the reason, the GWN issue is obviously one which trade and professional associations should be able to engage with, and given that information we could not recommend joining or remaining a member of any that do not vociferously support the cause.

We examine three aspects of the news release:

Registered Installers at a competitive disadvantage
Corgi is far exceeding its authority
Complex application

Competitive disadvantage

This argument is weak. Registered Installers are already at a serious competitive disadvantage for a number of reasons. No I am not talking about condensing boilers which never was an issue. The trade media frenzy on that subject was deliberately engineered to promote their advertisers. Part L 2001 is one substantial cause of competitive disadvantage. Also Part P 2005, and simply being a Registered Installer.

Ultra Vires

That argument may also be weak. It would appear Corgi can do anything they want to. Certainly the HSE has publicly stated they will not intervene on GWN, which was sold to the several nations in the UK, as a Gas Safety Initiative. At least they tried but no one I know was fooled by the accompanying waffle.

As well demonstrated by the GWN issue, Corgi can and do easily circumvent the illusory role of the Corgi Council. Remember, the people most likely to oppose GWN were carefully avoided in that particular decision making process as well publicized since.

Theoretically there is nothing to stop Corgi insisting we all make an annual pilgrimage to Basingstoke on pain of being struck-off. As Corgi is the body currently approved by the HSE, the Government could intervene and I suspect will ultimately have to do so - We need to address the organ-grinder, not the delinquent monkey.

Complex application

The interesting one has been saved until the last. Why is it now presented as a ‘complex application’ ? The judge did not apparently consider it complex when the application was rejected. The application as we understand it is far from complex. Two straightforward questions to be answered and it seems the questions were quickly and unequivocally answered.

Complex situation

The situation is a complex one, not the application. Corgi have been thoroughly dishonest. There is ample written evidence. They are also unethical. The only way to deal with those issues is to hit the Government hard with all the evidence and instruct them to act.

We do not have a choice. There is no democratic mechanism whatsoever that can be employed, other than legal proceedings, to address Corgi’s arrogance. Remember Corgi is a private company and nothing more. If there had been some democratic process, the reputable APHC would surely have taken up that option. What more proof is required ?

There does exist – in theory at least – a mechanism for addressing Government maladministration, which is really the central issue here. They must know or ought to know what is going on. Assuming they do not, we will let them know soon and invite the APHC to get involved with that, at nil cost to them.

Pointless endlessly banging on the door with a hammer. We need one huge battering ram of evidence to slay them. The evidence exists in plenty but it needs collating and fashioning into a suitable weapon. Pin the Government against the wall and we can hand them to mainstream media on a platter.

We are now in a position to expose HSE failures and Corgi failures at the same time. Failures which demonstrate hypocrisy, double standards and ridicule their alleged affection for public safety. We can demonstrate that CSI is not a Complete Safety Initiative at all but a Complete Self-serving Initiative.