LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER (CHURCH OF SCOTLAND) BILL. (Hansard, 11 May 1948)

§ LORD MORRISON

My Lords, this very short Bill will be easily understood by those of your Lordships who are normally resident in Scotland, and for the others I hope that a brief explanation will suffice to commend it. Its purpose is to increase the expenses allowance paid to His Majesty's High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Bill comes to us from another place, where it was subjected to a form of criticism which I am sure your Lordships would not wish to emulate. Indeed, when a Division was called, only ten members went into the "Noes" Lobby.

The Lord High Commissioner is the King's Representative, and his office dates from the Sixteenth Century. He takes up residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the period of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and, as His Majesty's Representative, is required to give hospitality, simply and without ostentation, to members of the Assembly and other representatives of public bodies in Scotland, and to invite others prominent in the public life of Scotland to meet them. In pre-war years a Garden Party was given each year in the grounds of Holyroodhouse and formed a characteristic feature of Assembly Week. In addition, two receptions were held at the Palace and several small luncheon and dinner parties took place. During the war years the scale of these entertainments was, of course, greatly reduced, but in 1946 and again last year steps were taken towards the resumption of pre-war hospitality.

So far as I can gather, the annual expense falling upon State funds for dispensing this hospitality has remained unchanged for 120 years. In fact, I believe that for even longer than that period it has stood at a maximum of £2,000 per annum, and this in spite of the changes in the value of money. It 752 is true, of course, that deficits occur from time to time and have had to be met either by the generosity of private citizens or, not infrequently, by the occupant of the Office concerned. In these days, when the burden on the private citizen is heavy, I am sure your Lordships would not wish that state of affairs to continue. Last year, and the year before, although hospitality and entertainment were dispensed without lavishness and, indeed, on a strictly national austerity scale, the rising cost brought expenditure well over the £2,000 mark. The Bill, therefore, increases the provision made to a sum not exceeding £4,000 per annum.

In the circumstances which I have briefly outlined, and in view of the fact that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is due to take place next week, I trust your Lordships will agree to give the Bill a Second Reading and to take the further stages without delay. May I add one further comment, necessary because of certain statements made in another place and repeated outside? The allowance provided under this Bill is not a salary. It is paid to cover the necessary expenses of the office, and will be fixed at a level sufficient, and no more than sufficient, for that purpose. Sixty years ago the sum provided was defined as being: Not remuneration for active duties, but an allowance for the purpose of discharging with dignity the hospitable rights of an Office of honour. That is still the position. I beg to move.