David Norris (Independent)

A pleasant and nice gentleman told me that he had been pursuing a grievance for 22 years. I told him that while that may very well have been the case, it took him until 5 p.m. yesterday to send his submission to me. The problem was that I had made my Second Stage speech a couple of weeks earlier. I acknowledge that some very responsible briefing work has been done by professional groups and individuals representing the architectural profession. While a number of individuals were quite late in joining the game, that does not invalidate the arguments they and many others have made — that for the good of the profession it is important that we establish the principle of independence in this legislation. I reiterate that to do so would not cast a slur on the existing professional body.