HL Deb 29 June 1926 vol 64 cc669-72

Order of the Day read for the consideration of the First Report from the Select Committee on House of Lords Offices.

The Committee reported as follows:—

1. LIBRARY SUB-COMMITTEE.

The Library Sub-Committee was reappointed, consisting of the following Lords:—Earl of Ilchester, Viscount Haldane, Viscount Finlay, Lord Wigan (Earl of Crawford), Lord Colebrooke, Lord Ernle and Lord Darling, with Lord Hylton, who took the place of the late Lord Stuart of Wortley.

2. SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE REFRESHMENT

DEPARTMENT.

The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was re-appointed, consisting of the following Lords:— Marquess of Lincolnshire, Lord Muir Mackenzie and Lord Lambourne, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

3. REFRESHMENT DEPARTMENT.

The Lord Great Chamberlain, as Chairman of the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment. Department, made a satisfactory report from the Sub-Committee.

The Committee authorised the sending of a circular letter to Peers asking for contributions, similar to that sent last year.

4. COMMITTEE ROOMS.

The Committee approved of a proposal submitted by the Chairman of Committees for constructing a doorway to communicate directly with the new Committee rooms in the house formerly occupied by the Clerk of the Parliaments.

5. ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS IN THE HOUSE.

The Committee approved of a proposal submitted by the Chairman of Committees to extend the use of the acoustic instruments to the boxes occupied by Black Rod, Officer of the House, and Private Secretaries.

6. HOUSEKEEPER—INSURANCE.

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a sum of £7 16s. 9d. to the Ministry of Health, in respect of payments for contributions under the National Health Insurance Acts for the Housekeeper from the 3rd of January, 1922, to the 3rd of January, 1926, in order to regularise her position and enable her to receive the old age pension, if necessary, at sixty-five years of age.

7. REVISION OF RETIRING ALLOWANCE OF

PRINCIPAL DOORKEEPER.

The Committee sanctioned the revised allowance of £322 9s. 4d. which had been paid to a Principal Doorkeeper who retired on the 12th of February, 1926; the alteration in the allowance was in accordance with the Civil Service practice.

8. PAYMENT OF WAGES DURING SICKNESS.

The Committee gave their formal sanction to the practice which had been pursued for many years as respects payment of wages during sickness. The practice is as follows:—

  1. (1) That weekly wage-earners appointed before the 6th August, Ins, receive sick pay benefits in accordance with the scale sanctioned by the Offices Committee in 1897, that is to say, full pay (including bonus) during sickness for a period not exceeding four weeks in any one year (1st January to 31st December) and three-fourths of the pay for a further similar period, provided that such latter pay be not allowed unless there appears a reasonable prospect of the person returning to work.
  2. (2) That weekly wage-earners appointed after 6th August, 1913, receive the sick pay benefits to which they are entitled under the National Health Insurance Act, with the following small modification which has in practice always been made, namely, that these persons for the first three days of sickness, during which no benefits are payable under the insurance Acts, receive wage inclusive of bonus.

9. GRATUITY TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF A

COAL PORTER (DECEASED).

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity, under the Superannuation Act, 1887, as amended by the Act of 1914, to the representative of a Coal Porter (E. Grimsey), who recently died after thirty-one years and four months service. The gratuity amounts to £86 16s., being at the rate of one week's pay plus 75 per cent. of bonus for each year of service.

The Committee also sanctioned the payment of the Coal Porter's second month of sick leave at full pay owing to exceptional circumstances.

10. ESTIMATE.

The Estimate for the House of Lords Offices for the year ending March, 1927, was laid before the Committee by the Clerk of the Parliaments and approved.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE)

My Lords, I beg to move, That the first Report from the Select Committee of your Lordships' Offices Committee he now considered and adopted.

Moved accordingly, and, on Question. Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at a quarter past seven o'clock.