HL Deb 18 December 1946 vol 144 cc1131-3

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—Sub-Committees.

The Library Sub-Committee was re-appointed as follows:—The Earl of Ilchester, the Earl of Drogheda, the Viscount Mersey, the Lord Stanmore, the Lord Macmillan, the Lord Soulbury, the Lord Simonds, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was re-appointed as follows:—The Earl of Lucan, the Earl Fortescue, the Viscount Mersey, the Lord Stanmore, the Lord Jessel, the Lord Henderson, with the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Clerk of the Parliaments.

2.—War Memorial.

The Committee proposed that the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Duke of Wellington, the Viscount Esher, the Viscount Stansgate, the Lord Methuen and the Lord Denham, nominated in October last to represent the House of Lords, should have authority to act on behalf of the House on matters connected with proposals for the erection of a joint war memorial by the two Houses of Parliament.

The Committee also proposed that these peers should be appointed to deal with proposals for a House of Lords war memorial and that in due course they should submit suggestions to the House of Lords Offices Committee as to the form such a memorial should take.

3.—Reporting Staff.

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Act, 1935, to Mr. A. A. Reid on his retirement as Editor of Debates; and desired the Clerk of the Parliaments to convey to Mr. Reid an expression of their deep appreciation of his long and valued service to the House.

The Committee approved the appointment of Mr. Sidney Charles Ireland as Editor. The Committee also approved of the post of Assistant Editor being made permanent and of the appointment of Mr. Wilfred Morley Stuart thereto. Both appointments to date from January 1, 1947.

The Committee sanctioned the consolidated salary scales payable to the Editor, Assistant Editor and Clerical Assistant.

4.—Historical Records.

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee of the resignation of Mr. Francis Robert Dudley Needham as Clerk in charge of the historical records of the House and of the appointment of Mr. Maurice Francis Bond to this post.

The Committee sanctioned the salary payable to Mr. Bond.

5.—Superannuation (Unestablished Service) Regulations, 1946.

The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Circular No. 31/46 to any of the staff of the House of Lords to whom it may apply.

6.—Housemaids.

The Committee approved an increase in wages to the housemaids.

7.—Estimates.

The Estimate for the House of Lords for 1947–48 was laid before the Committee by the Clerk of the Parliaments and approved.

8.—Supplementary Estimate, 1946–47.

The Committee approved the Supplementary Estimate submitted to meet the excess due to higher rates of pay to the Police, increased charges on the Reporting Staff and the appointment of three Custodian Firemen.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)

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

Moved, That the First Report from the Select Committee be now considered.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

THE EARL OF DROGHEDA

My Lords, there are perhaps two matters in this Report to which I might briefly refer. First, there is the question of war memorials. Your Lordships will notice that the Committee appointed in October last are dealing with two different war memorials—first, the joint memorial for the two Houses of Parliament and, second, the memorial for this House only.

The other matter to which I should refer is that of the retirement of Mr. Reid, the Editor of Debates. Mr. Reid, I think your Lordships will agree, carried through his duties with great success during a time when it was very difficult to recruit staff, and I think that your Lordships will wish to endorse the expression of deep appreciation of his long and valued services which the Committee make. I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to.

Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.