HL Deb 11 June 1953 vol 182 cc877-8

3.28 p.m.

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, this is another scheme, put forward for slightly different reasons. In 1629, George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, established the Hospital of the Blessed Trinity in Guildford. It was originally intended for between fourteen and twenty men and women—though now, for one reason or another, the numbers have expanded to twenty-two. The old Charter lays down that the Master shall be a single man of fifty years of age, born or having lived twenty years in Guildford. Under the new scheme, the qualification of being a single man is removed, and that is one of the prime reasons for the Bill, for it has been found much easier to provide a Master if he could be a married man.

At the same time, opportunity is being taken for a general tidying up of some of the other ancient provisions. The Governors, for instance, have been increased in number from nine to fourteen. They consisted formerly of the Mayor, three rectors, the Master of the Grammar School, four members of the Guildford Corporation, who were to be the two senior aldermen, provided that they belonged to the Church of England, and the two senior councillors, also if they were of the Church of England. In practice it was sometimes found difficult to decide who fulfilled that qualification, so the new Governors are the Mayor, three rectors, the Master of the Grammar School, four men or women appointed by the Guildford Corporation—not necessarily of themselves—and five co-opted members. It is intended in the first instance that of these five co-opted members, four shall be the existing representatives of the Guildford Corporation. The choosing of the alms persons was originally clone alternately by the Mayor of Guildford and by the Master; now it is to be done by the Board of Governors. The new scheme generally brings the whole provisions up to date, and makes it possible for the Governors to provide attendants in case of illness or permanent infirmity, which of course is a great improvement. That is a brief sketch of the objects of this scheme. If there is any further information that noble Lords require, I will endeavour to answer any points that may be raised when I exercised my right of reply. I beg to move.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Hawke.)

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, we support the Second Reading of this Bill. As there is, apparently, to be no transfer of funds and no question of reduction or discontinuance of a small payment, we do not feel it necessary to continue the discussion upon this Bill.

On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.