HL Deb 16 July 1946 vol 142 cc520-2

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

1.—TRAVELLING EXPENSES OF PEERS.

The Committee were informed that an additional estimate on the House of Lords vote had been approved for the reimbursement of travelling expenses incurred by members of the House of Lords in their attendance on Parliamentary duties.

2.—REFRESHMENT DEPARTMENT.

The consideration of a Report from the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department with reference to proposals for the amalgamation of the catering accommodation of the two Houses was postponed.

3.—REPORTING STAFF.

The Committee sanctioned the appointment of an Assistant Editor of Debates and authorised the payment of salary to Mr. S. C. Ireland on his appointment to this post.

4.—CUSTODIANS.

The Committee sanctioned the appointment and salaries of three firemen engaged for fire prevention duties in the Palace of Westminster.

5.—CEREMONIAL DUTIES.

The Committee sanctioned certain payments for extra duties in connexion with the Victory Celebrations on Saturday, June 8, 1946.

6.—OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The Committee recommend that the invitations to peeresses to attend the ceremony at the Opening of Parliament should be limited to seventy, and that these invitations should not be extended to dowager peeresses.

7.—HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS.

The Committee approved proposals for the repair and care of historical documents housed in the Palace of Westminster.

8.—ECCLESIASTICAL COMMITTEE.

The Committee were informed that Sir John Stainton, K.B.E., had been appointed to succeed Mr. Arthur A. Capewell, K.C., as Legal Adviser to the Ecclesiastical Committee from April 18, 1946.

9.—PRESENTATIONS TO THE HOUSE.

The Committee expressed their appreciation of an offer from Lord Rochdale of the trowel with which the foundation stone of "Big Ben" was laid and also of an offer from Mrs. Jones of a watercolour painting for one of the frescoes by D. Maclise in the House of Lords, they recommend the acceptance of both these offers and that a message of thanks should be communicated to the respective donors.

3.48 p.m.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)

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

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.

THE EARL OF DROGHEDA

My Lords, I think there is only one point in this Report to which I should perhaps draw your Lordships' attention, and that is the question of invitations to Peeresses to attend the ceremony at the opening of Parliament. For some little time, more Peeresses have wished to attend than could be accommodated. In 1937, 192 Peeresses applied for invitations, and it was then decided that the number of invitations should be limited to 130. There had, therefore, to be a ballot. A considerable number of Peers also attended then, and the result was that many Peers had to stand throughout the ceremony. The Select Committee have considered this question very carefully, and their unanimous recommendation is that on the next occasion of the opening of Parliament invitations to Peeresses should be limited to 70, and that invitations should not be extended to dowager Peeresses. It is not suggested that this should obtain on all future occasions. The recommendation is limited to the next occasion only. After that, the matter will no doubt be further considered. I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.