HL Deb 09 December 1953 vol 184 cc1116-9

2.52 p.m.

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—RETIREMENT OF ADMIRAL SIR GUY ROYLE

The Committee learned with regret of the resignation of Admiral Sir Guy Royle, K.C.B., C.M.G., Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, and requested the Chairman of Committees to convey to him their appreciation of his services.

The Committee sanctioned the payment to him of a gratuity and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts, 1859–1949.

The Committee were informed of the appointment of Captain Kenneth Mackintosh, R.N. (retired), to fill the vacancy as from 1st December, 1953, and approved the grant of a temporary house allowance, for such time as his official residence is not available.

2.—LIBRARY

The Sub-Committee on the Library was appointed as follows: L. Chancellor, E. Ilchester, E. Drogheda, E. Bessborough, V. Mersey, V. Simon, L. Stanmore, L. Reid, L. Burden, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

3.—HOUSE OF LORDS CHAMBER

The Sub-Committee on the Windows of the House was appointed as follows: D. Wellington, M. Salisbury, E. Drogheda, E. Munster, V. Mersey, L. Wigan (E. Crawford), L. Burden, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

4.—REFRESHMENT DEPARTMENT.

The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was appointed as follows: E. Fortescue, E. Bessborough, V. Mersey, L. Mancroft, L. Killearn, L. Ammon, L. Henderson, L. Lucas of Chilworth, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

The Report of the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was laid before the Committee and approved.

5.—READING CLERK

The Committee approved the salary payable to Mr. Anthony Henry Jeffreys, Chief Clerk of Committee and Private Bill Office, on his appointment as Reading Clerk.

6.—APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL CLERK OF JUDICIAL OFFICE

The Committee were informed that the Clerk of the Parliaments had appointed Mr. Geoffrey Hugh Eastwood, C.B.E., as Principal Clerk of the Judicial Office in the place of Mr. Victor Martin Reeves Goodman, C.B., O.B.E., M.C., from 28th October, 1953.

7.—APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF CLERK

The Committee were informed that the Clerk of the Parliaments had appointed Mr. Robert Westby Perceval as Chief Clerk, Special Procedure Orders Office, in the place of Mr. Geoffrey Hugh Eastwood, from 28th October, 1953.

8.—HISTORICAL RECORDS

The Committee were informed of the extra work falling upon the staff engaged on Historical Records due to the scheme of restoration in the Victoria Tower, and authorised the temporary appointment of Mr. Henry Stephen Cobb as an Assistant Archivist. The Committee approved the scale of salary for the new post, the salary to be reviewed at the expiration of twelve months.

9.—ALLOWANCES

The Committee sanctioned the payment of an annual allowance to Mr. P. Johnson, O.B.E., on his appointment as Taxing Officer of Judicial Costs, and to the Clerical Assistant in the Accountant's Office.

10.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY

The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 34/53 to analogous grades of the House of Lords' staff and approved the proposed new consolidated scales at present under negotiation with the Treasury. The Committee also sanctioned revised scales of pay for the Attendants of the Lord Great Chamberlain's staff and the Search Room Assistants.

11.—RETIREMENT OF SENIOR CUSTODIAN INSPECTOR

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts, 1935 and 1949, to George William Woodcock, Senior Custodian Inspector, who retired from 15th September, 1953, after 13 years' reckonable service.

12.—RETIREMENT OF HEAD ATTENDANT

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity under the Superannuation Act, 1949, to Charles George Robson Marriott, B.E.M., the Head Attendant in the Lord Great Chamberlain's Department, on his retirement on the 2nd January, 1954, after 56 years' unestablished service, and directed that a letter of appreciation should be sent to him.

13.—RETIREMENT OF PRINCIPAL DOORKEEPER

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts, 1935 and 1949, to Frank Lister, D.C.M., M.M., Principal Doorkeeper, on his retirement from 22nd January, 1954, after 22 completed years' service.

14.—RETIREMENI OF SENIOR LIBRARY ASSISTANT

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts, 1935 and 1949, to Richard William Payne, Senior Library Assistant, on his retirement from 1st February, 1954, after an extension of service.

15.—SUPPLEMENTARY GRATUITY TO WIDOW OF ATTENDANT

The Committee were informed of the death, on 23rd September, 1953, of Stanley Harrison Ketcher, an unestablished attendant in the Lord Great Chamberlain's Department.

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a supplementary death gratuity under section 2 (2) of the Superannuation Act, 1909, to his widow, the legal personal representative.

16.—RETIREMENT OF A HOUSEMAID

The Committee sanctioned the payment, under section 40 of the Superannuation Act, 1949, of a gratuity to Mrs. Davidiana Triggs, Housemaid, on her retirement on 2nd January, 1954, after 28 completed years' service.

17.—COLUMN PRINTER NEWS MACHINE

The Committee authorised a further increase in the annual payment to the Exchange Telegraph Company Limited for provision of the Column Printer News Service as from the 1st October, 1953.

18.—ESTIMATES

The Estimates for the House of Lords for 1954–55 were laid before the Committee and approved.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)

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

Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.

THE EARL OF DROGHEDA

My Lords, I do not think that there is anything in this Report to which I need call your special attention]. I therefore beg to move formally that it be agreed to.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.