ARCHITECTS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 4.11 p.m.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Under the existing provisions in section 8 (2) of the Architects Act, 1976, all architects must have practical experience in Singapore for a continuous period of 12 months in architectural work after qualifying and having passed such professional practice examinations prescribed by the Board before they are entitled to registration with the Board. This provision deters good experienced architects to seek registration in Singapore.

The Bill also seeks to provide for the registration of architects without the need of passing a professional examination if the architect has at least -

(i) Five years post-qualification professional experience of which two are in Singapore; or

(ii) 10 or more years post-qualification professional experience of such a standard as may be recognised by the Board.

Singapore can then attract good experienced architects who can inject new ideas and thinking to improve the quality of architecture here. This will also help to augment the pool of architectural talents to meet the needs of our construction industry.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Teh Cheang Wan]j

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Clause 1 -

The Chairman: The citation year will be altered from "1979" to "1980".

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment: read a Third time and passed.