§ 3.7 p.m.
§ The Lord ChancellorMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
It consolidates the law relating to architects which dates back to two pre-war Acts which established a system of registration of architects and prohibited use of the title "architect" by unregistered persons. Those Acts have since been amended both by primary legislation and by Orders in Council implementing the EC directive on architects, providing for the recognition of architects qualified in other EC states.
Most recently, a number of reforms were carried into law last Session as Part III of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. The main purpose of the changes to the law relating to architects made by that Act was to rename and revise the composition of the Architects' Registration Council of the United Kingdom, the body responsible for the registration of architects, and to modernise the arrangements for disciplining registered architects. The changes were effected by large-scale textual amendment of the pre-war Acts, adding to the desirability of the present consolidation. The relevant professional bodies have been consulted about the Bill, and it has been welcomed by the Architects' Registration Council of the United Kingdom and by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
In common with the two following consolidation Bills, this Bill will be referred in the usual way to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills if your Lordships are content to give it a Second Reading. I am sure that the House will wish to join me in thanking the draftsmen of all three Bills for continuing their important work in preparing consolidation Bills. I commend the Bill to the House.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read a second time, and referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills.