§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following the review by Mr. John Warne CB of the Architects (Registration) Acts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI have today published the report of the independent review of the Acts, which was undertaken following a request by the Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom. I am grateful for the full co-operation which had been given to the review by ARCUK and the profession generally, and to those who responded in the public consultation on this matter.
90WThe review's conclusion is clear: that statutory registration of architects has brought no added benefit to the public, to consumers, or to the profession itself and that there is no reason why architects uniquely amongst the construction professions should be regulated by statute. The established arrangements for self-regulation through the chartered professional institutions provide for satisfactory protection of the public interest, and of consumers. The Government accepts the report's conclusions. I have therefore decided that statutory registration should be abolished at the earliest legislative opportunity.
Until such time as the Acts have been repealed, the legal restriction on the use of the title of architect will remain and ARCUK will continue to perform its registration, enforcement and other functions in the usual way.