§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is now in a position to make a statement on the Government's response to the recommendations of the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on architects' services; and if he envisages any consequent amendment to the Architects Registration Act 1938.
§ Mr. John FraserMy right hon. Friend announced when the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of architects' services with reference to scale fees was published in November 1977 that he agreed with the Commission's conclusions that the architects' 629W monopoly in relation to scale fees operated against the public interest in a number of specified respects. Since then the Director General of Fair Trading has been holding discussions with the professional bodies about the action that should be taken and the amendments that might be necessary to their rules. As I told the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 6th June [Vol. 951, c. 42–3], I will be making a statement in due course. It is unlikely that amendments to the architects registration Acts will be necessary.