PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BILL

The Minister for National Development (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as item 6 in the Order Paper.

*The Motion reads as follows:

That this Parliament resolves that the resolution of the House on 20th December 1990 committing the Professional Engineers Bill to a select committee be modified by deleting the words "the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and such Members as the Committee of Selection may nominate" and substituting therefor the words "the Bill be committed to the Select Committee appointed to consider the Architects Bill".

The objective and rationale for the Professional Engineers Bill is similar to that of the Architects Bill. Both Bills seek to allow professional engineers and architects to team up with allied professionals to form multi-discipline partnerships and limited liability companies. The contents of both Bills are similar except for one clause in the Professional Engineers Bill - clause 11(3)(b) which seeks to permit only professional engineers to use, as a title before his or her name, the word "Engineer" or its abbreviation "Er." or "Engr.".

It is, therefore, logical for both Bills to be considered by the same Select Committee. Whatever amendments that are to be made to the Architects Bill will be applicable to the Professional Engineers Bill.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament resolves that the resolution of the House on 20th December 1990 committing the Professional Engineers Bill to a select committee be modified by deleting the words "the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and such Members as the Committee of Selection may nominate" and substituting therefor the words "the Bill be committed to the Select Committee appointed to consider the Architects Bill".