HL Deb 31 October 1946 vol 143 cc921-3

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—War memorial.

The Committee proposed that the Duke of Wellington, Viscount Esher, Lord Methuen, together with the Earl of Ancaster (Lord Great Chamberlain) and two Peers to be nominated by the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition respectively, be asked to represent the House of Lords in a discussion with members of the House of Commons to consider proposals for a joint war memorial.

2.—Retirement of Office Assistant.

The Committee sanctioned a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Act, 1935, to Mr. Harold Lionel Hale Maynard, office assistant, who retires voluntarily on 31st October 1946, after 13 completed years' service.

3.—Reporting Staff.

The Committee approved the proposed contract with Messrs. H. Craig-Kelly Limited for the supply of typists for the reporting of debates.

4.—Librarian's Department.

The Committee considered the revision of the salary scales of the Librarian and Assistant Librarian and referred the matter to a Sub-Committee consisting of the Earl of Drogheda, Lord Macmillan and Lord Henderson with the Clerk of the Parliaments to settle the matter with the Treasury.

5.—Gratuity to Legal Personal Representative of Porter.

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity under section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1909, to the legal personal representative of Mr. Christopher Elias Grimsey, an established porter in the Department of the Lord Great Chamberlain, whose death occurred on 6th September, 1946.

6.—Offer of Drawings of the late Sir George Clausen.

The Committee instructed the Clerk of the Parliaments to communicate with the executors of the late Sir George Clausen regretting that the Committee were unable to accept their kind offer owing to lack of accommodation in the building.

7.—Divisions.

The Committee recommended that when a division is called in the House, the interval of time between the order "Clear the Bar" and the Question being finally put, should be extended from two minutes to four minutes. This procedure to be in force while the House is sitting in its present Chamber.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)

My Lords, I beg to move that this 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, there are two points in this Report to which I might very shortly draw your attention. The first is in connexion with the Parliamentary war memorial. Your Lordships may remember that Mr. Speaker asked that a certain number of members of this House should be nominated to take part in discussions with Members of the House of Commons about the memorial. The recommendation of the Committee is that the Duke of Wellington, Viscount Esher, Lord Methuen and the Earl of Ancaster, the Lord Great Chamberlain, should be asked to represent the House together with two Peers nominated respectively by the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. The two Peers so nominated are Viscount Stansgate and Lord Denham. So, if the House agrees with our Report, these six Peers will represent the House at the joint discussions.

The other point is about Divisions. Experience has shown that two minutes is not sufficient time to ensure that every Peer who wishes to vote reaches the Division Lobby in time while we are sitting in this Chamber. The recommendation of the Committee is that the time should be extended to four minutes while we are here. I imagine that we shall return to the period of two minutes when we go back to our own Chamber. That recommendation, if it is approved, will need an alteration in Standing Order No. XXXII. I ask the House to agree to this Report and I beg to move.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.