The UK Government is not collecting data on the use of cash retentions in the public sector, it has emerged. The hands-off approach to the divisive issue of retentions in the industry was highlighted in a series of written answers to parliamentary questions published this week. They also revealed that it offers no guidance on the topic to procuring bodies and has no plans to include it in its Construction Playbook, which sets out best practice for public contracts. Construction commentator Rudi Klein said the answers show the government is doing nothing to curb “retentions abuse”. Lord Martin Callanan, a junior minister at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said on Tuesday that the government is working with the Construction Leadership Council “to identify a sustainable strategy on retentions”.