Chartered and Technician Engineers and Engineering Technicians (Hansard, 15 February 1971)

§ Mr. John Davies

I am informed by the Lord President of the Council that the362W application by the Council of Engineering Institutions for the amendments to its Royal Charter was approved by Her Majesty in Council on 10th February, 1971; and that the approval of the amendments to the Council's By-Laws will be given by the Privy Council very shortly. I welcome the establishment by the Council of Engineering Institutions of an Engineers' Registration Board with three independent sections providing a composite register covering Chartered Engineers, Technician Engineers and Engineering Technicians. This development is an important step in establishing standards for engineers at all levels and in providing a basis for registration to practise should this prove necessary for employment abroad.

I welcome the initiative taken by the Council of Engineering Institutions in seeking approval to amendments in its Charter and By-Laws enabling the register to be established. The majority of institutions directly concerned with Technician Engineers and Engineering Technicians will not, however, be Constituent Members of the Council of Engineering Institutions; consequently successful implementation will depend on the close co-operation and concerted efforts of all the engineering institutions.

I am glad to be assured that the three sections forming the Registration Board will enjoy the maximum autonomy consistent with the maintenance of high standards of academic qualification, professional competence and practical experience; and that control of the affairs of participating institutions, which are not Constituent Members of the Council of Engineering Institutions, will be limited to the extent necessary for registration purposes as laid down by the provisions of the Council of Engineering Institutions' Charter and By-Laws.

I regard it as important that early steps be taken to:

(i) permit engineers, who already have the appropriate qualifications, but are not members of a Constituent Institution of the Council of Engineering Institutions, to be eligible for registration as Chartered Engineers, provided that they comply with all the other requirements for this qualification;
(ii) foster the federation of engineering institutions outside the Council of Engineering Institutions so as to enable the Technician Engineers and/or Engineering Technicians to speak with one voice on matters of common concern and general interest wherever appropriate, as the Council of Engineering Institutions already does for the Chartered Institutions;
(iii) facilitate the registration within the Composite Register of all suitably qualified engineers whose names may now be included in any registers of engineers at present maintained by bodies other than the Council of Engineering Institutions.

On this basis I regard the proposals as a major step forward towards ensuring a high status and high professional standards for the whole engineering community; and I will follow further developments with close interest.