§ Order of the Day for the consideration of the First Report from the Select Committee read.
§ The Committee reported as follows:
§ 1.—FIREWATCHING—HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
§ The Clerk of the Parliaments explained to the Committee the arrangements made for firewatching 747 at the Houses of Parliament and payments in connexion therewith, which received the approval of the Committee.
§ 2.—HOUSE ALLOWANCES.
§ The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee that the sub-committee appointed to consider a house allowance for the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod have approved a grant as from the date on which his official residence was rendered unserviceable. The report of the sub-committee was agreed to.
§ The Committee agreed to a payment to Mr. F. C. Meech, Resident Superintendent, for expenses incurred between the date of his appointment and the date when his official residence was ready for occupation.
§ 3.—COLUMN PRINTER NEWS MACHINE.
§ The Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod informed the Committee that the firm responsible for the column printer news machine had found it necessary to raise the annual payment from £50 to £100. The Committee agreed to the increased payment.
§ 4.—ESTIMATES.
§ The Estimate for the House of Lords Offices for 1942 was laid before the Committee.
§ 5.—TEMPORARY HOUSEMAIDS.
§ The Committee agreed to the temporary appointment of two extra housemaids owing to the difficulty of filling vacancies on the porters' staff.
§ 6.—CIVIL SERVICE WAR BONUS.
§ The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Circular No. 12/41 for the payment of war bonus to the staff of the House of Lords to whom it applies.
§ 7.—SUB-COMMITTEES .
§ The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was re-appointed as follows:—The Earl of Lucan, the Lord Hare (E. Listowel), the Lord Stanmore, the Lord Jessel, the Lord Atkin, the Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, with the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Clerk of the Parliaments.
§ The Library Sub-Committee was re-appointed as follows:—The Marquess of Crewe, the Earl of Ilchester, the Earl of Onslow, the Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, the Lord Stanmore, the Lord Atkin, the Lord Macmillan, the Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now considered and agreed to. I do not think I have anything to tell your Lordships in regard to the Report which deals entirely with routine matters. If there are any questions which your Lordships wish to put, I shall be glad to answer them.
§ Moved, That the Report be now considered and agreed to.—(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.