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From 1 April 2009, Gas Safe Register replaces the CORGI gas registration scheme in Great Britain and launches a campaign to make the nation gas safe.  New research from Gas Safe Register reveals that when it comes to gas safety, Brits are far too trusting.

Alarmingly, over half of Great Britain’s population said they took it on trust that their gas engineer was properly registered and never checked that they were. A trust which if broken can make the difference between life and death.

Apprentice contestant Lorraine Tighe (she's the boring one who looks like Alan Carr in drag) is reported to be being questioned by Revenue and Customs officials as part of an investigation into an alleged £8m fraud at her father's construction company.

Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has set out his stall to the G20 with a plan to soothe the global economic crisis and save the jobs of Australian plumbers. The 26th Australian premier will join Gordon Brown and Barack Obama in appealing for the elimination of bad bank assets to resuscitate the lending market.

Britain's largest privately-owned construction company has announced that it will recruit 1,000 apprentices in 2009 an artical in The Times has reported. Laing O'Rourke, which leads the consortium responsible for the venues for the 2012 Olympics, will create 200 "specially tailored" schemes with its chain suppliers accounting for a further 800 places.

Kingfisher, the home improvements retailer that owns B&Q, has announced a 75% drop in profits.

Pre-tax profits in 2008 fell to £90m, although revenue rose by 10.8% to £10bn. In the UK, sales declined by 2.6% to £4.3bn, as the recession hit consumers upgrading their homes.

There's been some cheer for the housing market today, with news from the British Bankers' Association (BBA), stating that there's been a rise in mortgage approvals by the major banks for the third month in a row.

28,179 mortgages were approved for house purchases in February, up from 24,278 in January - a 16% increase.

The Ideal Home Show opened last Friday to rave reviews - having been down there myself, I can honestly say it's the best show that I can remember.

Among the most striking installations at the show is the Smarter Living Theatre. Situated in the middle of main exhibition hall, the two-storey demonstration zone looks like a house of the future with an impressive open plan layout backing on to a contemporary urban garden.

ProblemSolved has teamed up with the EDF Energy Ideal Home Show to give away 50 pairs of after 5pm tickets to its members.

This glossy hardback is the new and improved edition of the best-selling DIY bible, containing new, eco-friendly content as well as the original, fool-proof advice and guidance on how to achieve success on every DIY home project!

The UK Government will now have the option to reduce VAT from 15% to 5% on building and construction work after EU financial chiefs gave the OK to the proposal aimed at easing the burden on the property market.