Can somebody please confirm a query? Contacted a crane hire company to appoint them to carry out the unloading and lifting into position roof trusses on a small construction site. I have always been under the impression that the crane hire company must provide a risk assessment and method statement for the work but they have told us that if they do them they will charge my boss an extra £600 but if we do them for them they will just send a crane and operator.

Depends on what you asked for! A "contract" lift means they will be responsible for the proper planning of the lifting ops, RAMS and lift plan but even then you have to make sure you ask for a lift supervisor unless you have one of your own. Contract lifts are more expensive to just hiring a crane and operator because the lifting company are doing the preparatory & planning piece.

CONTRACT LIFT > mean's that the company you have employed to complete thet lift are responsible for ensuring that all lifting is in accordance with BS 7121;they should then supply you with: lift plan, risk assessments and the relevent personnel to complete the task. As part of the contract lift they supply AP or lift supervisor in his absence. Your duty is to ensure that the ground is capable of supporting any impending loadings > Temp work's!!