HL Deb 21 December 1937 vol 107 cc555-7

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

The Committee reported as follows:—

1.—ESTIMATE.

The Estimate for the House of Lords' Offices for the year 1938 was laid before the Committee.

The Estimate provides for changes in certain scales of salaries and for general revision under Treasury Circular 14/37. The revised system of salaries, as set out in a schedule put before the Committee by the Clerk of the Parliaments, was approved.

The provision in the Estimate of a sum of £50 for repairs to and future care of Historical MSS. in the Victoria Tower was also approved.

2.—CLERK TO THE LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN.

The Committee granted an additional allowance of £175 18s. 9d. to Captain J. W. G. Townsend, M.B.E., the Clerk to the Lord Great Chamberlain on his retirement on 21st January, 1938. They also granted an annual pension of £45 19s. 6d. to Captain Townsend with a pension of £21 to his wife, in case he should die before her, under the Allocation Scheme of the Superannuation Act, 1935.

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a salary of £190 for one year as from 15th October, 1937, to Mr. Richard Herbert who has been appointed to succeed Captain J. w. G. Townsend, M.B.E., as Clerk to the Lord Great Chamberlain, the conditions of salary attaching to this appointment to be reviewed before that period expires.

3.—GRATUITY TO A HOUSEMAID.

The Committee sanctioned a gratuity under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, amounting to £35 18s. 8d. to Mrs. E. Chapman in respect of 23 years' service as housemaid in the House of Lords, and 5 years at the Privy Council.

4.—GRANT TO A WIDOW OF CUSTODIAN UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE SUPERANNUATION ACT, 1887.

The Committee granted a compassionate grant of £48 to Mrs. Sandison, widow of F. Sandison, custodian, who died suddenly on 28th November last after 16 years' service.

5.—COAL PORTER.

The Committee approved the appointment as from the 1st January, 1938, of an additional coal porter in view of the extra work necessitated by Ministers' Rooms.

6.—ACOUSTICS OF THE CHAMBER.

The Committee directed that the Office of Works shall be called into consultation on the subject of the acoustic facilities of the Chamber.

7.—TELEPHONES.

The Committee approved the installation of a telephone and the construction of a telephone box outside the Minute Room.

THE EARL OF LUCAN

My Lords, on behalf of the Chairman of Committees I beg to move that this Report be now considered and agreed to. I have to point out that in Item No. 2 a slight amendment has to be made in the figures of the additional allowance, as the Treasury has pointed out that a proviso of the Superannuation Act, 1909, applies to this case, in view of the fact that the retiring official was allowed two years' extension after he had reached the age limit. Subject to that alteration, I ask your Lordships to agree to the Report.

Moved, That the Report be now considered and agreed to.—(The Earl of Lucan.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.