PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

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

This Bill was also introduced and the Second Reading was debated last year. The Bill lapsed because Parliament was prorogued. Let me recapitulate the main objective of the Bill.

The Professional Engineers Bill will repeal and re-enact with changes the existing Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253). The Bill's main objective is similar to that of the Architects Bill - to allow professional engineers to team up with allied professionals to form multi-discipline partnerships and limited liability companies.

Mr Speaker, Sir, this Bill was also committed to the same Select Committee as the Architects Bill and Land Surveyors Bill when I moved it before the House in December 1990 in the Second Session of the Seventh Parliament. Fourteen written representations on the three related Bills were received by the Select Committee from professional groups and individuals before Parliament was prorogued.

I propose to refer the Bill to the Select Committee appointed to consider the Architects Bill. The written representations already received will be considered by the Select Committee together with any new representations that may be submitted.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Professional Engineers Bill be committed to the Select Committee appointed to consider the Architects Bill. - [Mr S. Dhanabalan].