25 The percentage of specialist contractors who claim they are waiting over two months to get paid for completed work, according to a National Specialist Contractors’ Council report.

35 The number of fatalities in the industry between April and October last year, according to the latest HSE figures. That compares with 37 in 2006/07.

70 The percentage of construction waste Bovis Lend Lease wants to cut from landfill as part of plans for company-wide sustainability targets, which it hopes will be adopted by the rest of the industry.

2,500 The number of offenders to be housed in each of three giant prisons to be built before 2014, according to a report carried out by Lord Carter for the government.

15,000 The number of tunnellers required over the next five years if huge projects such as Crossrail are to be built on time. The skills body TunnelSkills has been set up to help meet the shortfall.

17m The amount, in pounds, PC Harrington claims it is owed by Multiplex following the Wembley debacle. The concrete firm is now taking the Australian contractor to court after months of private negotiations have produced no results.

150m The amount, in pounds, Mace is asking for to build an extension to the Tate Modern gallery in London. The firm is thought to have won the contract over rival Balfour Beatty.