HL Deb 16 July 1959 vol 218 cc82-4

Order of the Day read for the consideration of the Third Report from the Select Committee.

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—LIBRARY

The Report from the Sub-Committee on the Library with reference to the proposal that Peers should be able to borrow certain books was laid before the Committee and approved.

2.—CLERKS IN THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE

The Committee approved an extension of service to Mr. C. F. L. St. George, C.B.E., the Clerk of the Journals, to 31st March, 1960.

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee of the appointment of Mr. P. G. Henderson as a Senior Clerk in the Parliament Office from 1st May, 1959.

3.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY

  1. (a) The Committee sanctioned the application of Establishments Circular No. 25/59 (Pay of the Higher Civil Service) to the Officers of the House of Lords to whom it may be applied.
  2. (b) The Committee approved the revised scales of salary consequent upon the application to the staff of the House of Lords of Establishments Circular No. 14/59 (Pay of Clerical Officers etc.).
The Committee sanctioned consequential increases in superannuation awards in two cases.

4.—POLICE

The Committee authorised the payment for additional Police required for the opening of the Palace of Westminster to the public on Mondays in August.

5.—REPORTING STAF

The Committee reviewed the agreement with Messrs. H. Craig-Kelly Limited for the supply of typists for the reporting of debates and approved an increase in the existing rates of pay from the 1st July, 1959.

6.—RETIREMENT OF REGISTRY CLERK

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Josiah Edward Symonds, M.B.E., on his retirement on the 18th September, 1959.

The Committee instructed the Clerk of the Parliaments to convey to Mr. Symonds their warm appreciation of the manner in which he had carried out his duties.

7.—RETIREMENT OF HEAD OFFICE ASSISTANT

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. John Edward Roberts on his retirement on the 1st November, 1959.

8.—RETIREMENT OF INSPECTOR OF CUSTODIANS

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Ernest Victor Jacobs on his retirement on the 7th October, 1959.

9.—RETIREMENT OF A CUSTODIAN

The Committee sanctioned a revised pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Stanley Frederick Hartopp who retired on the 11th April, 1959.

10.—RETIREMENT OF AN UNESTABLISHED CUSTODIAN

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a revised gratuity under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Arthur Edwin Wise who retired on the 6th April, 1959.

11.—GRATUITY TO A HOUSEMAID

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity under the Superannuation Acts to Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Dale on her retirement on the 15th August, 1959.

12.—VENTILATION IN THE CHAMBER

The Committee considered the method of ventilation in the Chamber. The Lord Great Chamberlain undertook to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Works and report back to the Committee at its next sitting.

13.—ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE FOR DINNER

The Committee considered the advisability of the House being adjourned for a period during late sittings, and agreed that adjournment was desirable during Government business but that during debates of a general nature the general rule should be not to adjourn, although each case should be judged on its merits.

The Committee authorised the Clerk of the Parliaments to examine the difficulties that arise with regard to the Reporting Staff, when the House does not adjourn for dinner during late sittings.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now considered.

Moved, That the Report be now considered.—(Lord Merthyr.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

LORD MERTHYR

My Lords, in rising to move that this Report be now agreed to I should like to say a few words on the first paragraph, which deals with the Library. The noble Earl, Lord Halifax, put to the Committee a proposal that facilities for obtaining books from an outside lending library should be provided. The Committee were not able to agree to that proposal, but they have put forward, as your Lordships will observe, a counter proposal to the effect that Members of this House should be allowed to take from the Library on loan one copy at a time of certain books, entering their names in a book which will be provided for the purpose. There will be a list of books placed inside that book for names, indicating which books should not be taken from the Library—such books as Law Reports, reference books and so forth. But if this Report is adopted it will become possible, so far as I know for the first time, for noble Lords to take out one at a time such books as biographies and other literature of that kind, though it will not be possible to take out what are termed "new books"; that is, those books which are for a temporary period placed on the shelf provided. Until those books are removed from that shelf and put in the general shelves they will not be taken out.

My Lords, I hope that your Lordships will find this a convenient course and will approve of it. I do not think that there are any other matters in this Report to which I need particularly to refer, but, needless to say, if any noble Lord wishes to ask me any questions I will do my best to answer them. I beg to move.

Moved, That the Report be now agreed to.—(Lord Merthyr.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.