HL Deb 26 July 1938 vol 110 cc1197-9

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

The Report was as follows:

1.—ACOUSTICS OF THE CHAMBER. A Report as to the improvement of the acoustics of the Chamber was laid before the Committee. The Committee recommended that one microphone should be suspended over the Cross Benches with a view to a further installation if satisfactory, and that twelve car pieces should be fitted in the Strangers' Gallery. The Clerk of the Parliaments was desired to investigate the question of other improvements.

2.—APPOINTMENT OF CLERK. The Committee sanctioned a scheme for the appointment of a Clerk on the general clerical scale.

3.—ADJUSTMENT OF SALARIES. The Committee sanctioned, as from April 1, 1938, the application of Treasury Circular No. 14/37 (Revision of Salaries) to the salary of the Counsel to the Chairman of Committees and the salaries of two senior clerks, the salary of the Counsel to the Chairman of Committees to be £2,000 and that of the two senior clerks £1,200, accordingly.

4.—THE FIRST PRINCIPAL DOORKEEPER. The Committee sanctioned an increase in the salary of the First Principal Doorkeeper from £280 to £300 per annum as from July 1. 1938.

5.—CLERK TO THE LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN. The Committee confirmed the appointment of Mr. R. Herbert. The salary to be £190, rising by annual increments of £12 from October 15, 1938, to a maximum of £280. They also sanctioned a payment to Mr. R. Herbert of £35 per annum whilst discharging duties of secretarial work to the Clerk of the Parliaments.

6. —HOUSEKEEPER. The Committee sanctioned full pay for the period May 19 to June 18, 1938, to the house-keener, who was incapacitated owing to an accident while on duty.

7.—GRATUITY TO A HOUSEMAID. The Committee sanctioned a gratuity calculated under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, to Mrs. Elizabeth Matthew in respect of twenty-four years' service as housemaid in the House of Lords.

8.—AUTHORIZATION OF EXTRA PAYMENTS. The Committee sanctioned the payments in connection with extra duties on Coronation Day, May 12, 1937.

9.—LIBRARY SUB-COMMITTEE. The Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and the Lord Stainnore were added to the Sub-Committee.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)

My Lords, the only point in this Report to which I would draw your Lordships' attention is the first one, which is headed "Acoustics of the Chamber." I think, as your Lordships are all well aware, the acoustics of this Chamber are not what they should be, and indeed I had occasion to remark the other day that if your Lordships and another place were to agree to Ministers addressing both Houses of Parliament, and a Minister from another place were to address your Lordships from behind the Woolsack, noble Lords would not hear what he said. Indeed, it is impossible in many parts of the House really to hear what noble Lords say. Any improvement of the acoustics of the House I am sure would be very greatly welcomed not only by your Lordships but by those who come here to listen to the debates. I have been myself in the Strangers' Gallery during a debate, and there found it extremely difficult to hear what noble Lords were saying on the floor of the House. I should imagine that much the same disability exists in the Reporters' Gallery, though perhaps the position is better there than in the Strangers' Gallery.

Various experiments have been considered by the authorities of the House and by the Office of Works, and it is proposed in the first instance to instal a microphone which will be hung from the ceiling just over the Cross Benches, and to connect it with the Strangers' Gallery by means of twelve ear-pieces, so that ear-pieces connected with the microphone will he used for the Strangers' Gallery as well as for your Lordships' House. That is not all we propose to do. Various other experiments are under consideration and will be tentatively introduced. This microphone installation is tentative. We do not exactly know how it will work, but it is hoped, by experiment and by putting in different devices, that we may be able to improve the acoustics of your Lordships' House. Personally, if I may say so, I hope one result will be the disappearance of the ugly black boxes that stand on the Table in front of your Lordships. That is the only point in the Report to which I need call your Lordships' attention. I hope these experiments will be successful, that the acoustics will be improved and that further improvements will be made as time goes on. I beg to move that this Report be now considered and agreed to.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.