HL Deb 18 July 1951 vol 172 cc989-91

2.48 p.m.

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—HOUSE OF LORDS CHAMBER. The Committee approved the Report of the Sub-Committee dealing with the windows of the Chamber They wished to place on record their appreciation of the generous offer of £20,000 by a Peer who wished to remain anonymous, and authorised a sub-committee to select the artist and to consider the design of the windows and the glass to be used. They also authorised the Ministry of Works to reduce the height of the cushion on the steps of the Throne and to replace the covers on the Thrones by something more comparable in beauty with the actual Thrones. They were informed that the Ministry of Works was examining the possibility of installing amplifiers in the Woolsack and in the Judges Benches in front of the Liberal Front Bench.

2.—WAR MEMORIAL. The Duke of Wellington undertook to put before the Sub-Committee on the War Memorial the suggestion that a temporary book containing the list of those who fell in the last war should he placed in position beside the Roll of Honour of the First War, until the proper Roll of Honour should be available to take its place.

3.—GRANT TO SOCIETY OF CLERKS-AT-THE-TABLE IN COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTS. The Committee approved the payment of an annual sum as a grant towards the expense of printing and publishing the annual journal of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments, together with a special payment for the year 1951–52 and in each of the next four years towards paying off a deficit which has accrued on the production of the journal over the past 17 years.

4.—GIFT TO THE LIBRARY. The Committee thanked Lord Macmillan for his generosity in giving a complete set of the Law Reports and Statutes from 1866 to the present day.

5.—LIBRARIAN. The Committee sanctioned an extension of service to Mr. Charles Travis Clay, C.B., the Librarian, for one year from the 30th July, 1951.

6.—ACCESS TO THE LORDS CANTEEN-BAR. The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Works should be asked to treat as a matter of urgency the restoration of a proper means of access to the Lords Canteen-Bar, which has now beer blocked for over two years, and they particularly request that this work should be carried out during the summer recess.

7.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY. The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Establishment Circular No. 25/51 dated 6th April, 1951 (Higher Clerical Officers), to analogous grades of the officials of the House of Lords and approved an increased salary scale for the Official Reporters.

8.—HISTORICAL RECORDS. The Committee approved a payment to Mr. F. D. Armitage in respect of his services for a biological survey of the Victoria Tower and laboratory tests.

9.—PORTERS AND HOUSEMAIDS. The Committee were informed of the difficulty of filling vacancies on the porters' staff and sanctioned the employment temporarily of two housemaids in the place of a porter when required.

10.—ADDITIONAL DOOR KEEPER AND HOUSE MESSENGER. The Committee agreed that Treasury approval should he sought for an additional Door Keeper and House Messenger, in connection with the scheme for the admission of the general public to the House of Lords.

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, the item in this Report which will be of most interest to the House is the extremely generous gift of £20,000 towards the adornment of the windows which has been made by a Peer who insists upon remaining anonymous. I am sure that we shall all agree with the Committee in saying that we accept it with great gratification and pleasure. I beg to move that this Report be approved.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.