§ 5. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will advise local authorities to cease obtaining the advice of the Royal Institute of British Architects on the selection of architects for public authority contracts worth over £20,000 until the Institute alters the rule by which architects for these larger contracts are selected at the London office of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
§ Mr. FreesonI understand there is no such rule. The President of the Royal Institute of British Architects however, will nominate architects if his advice is sought. In making recommendations he seeks the views of the local architects' society on suitable local architects.
§ Mr. BoydenWill my hon. Friend read the letter which the investigator for the R.I.B.A. has sent to the Department and do two things—first, consult the Minister of Public Building and Works to see whether the legal amount of a contract for nomination, £20,000, should not be raised considerably, and, secondly, see that it is clear that the northern and other regions get their full share of the President of the R.I.B.A's nominations?
§ Mr. FreesonI covered the latter point in my answer. As my hon. Friend will know from the letter he has referred to, very few local authorities at present ask the R.I.B.A. for such information. As far as the changes in procedure are concerned, I understand that the investigation has not been completed. When it is completed, and the R.I.B.A. wishes to have consultations with the Ministry, we will approach the matter in as constructive a way as possible.