§ 2.40 p.m.
§ Order of the Day read for the consideration of the Third Report from the Select Committee.
§ The Committee reported as follows:
§ 1.—LIBRARY
§ The Report of the Sub-Committee on the Library was laid before the Committee.
§ The Committee invited the Lord Great Chamberlain to take steps for the improvement of lighting in the Library.
§ The Committee authorised an extension of service to Mr. Charles Travis Clay, C.B., the Librarian, to October 31, 1955.
§ 2.—REFRESHMENT DEPARTMENT
§ The Report of the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was laid before the Committee.
§ 3.—APPOINTMENT OF A CLERK IN THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE
§ The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee of the appointment of Mr. Peter Gordon Henderson as a Clerk on the staff of the Parliament Office consequent upon the retirement of Sir Robert Overbury. The appointment dates from May 1, 1954.
§ The Committee sanctioned the salary payable to Mr. Henderson.
§ 4.—REARRANGEMENT OF STAFF IN THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE
§ The Committee authorised the substitution of an executive post for a clerkship (administrative grade) in the Parliament Office; this would effect an economy on the Estimate.
§ The Committee approved the appointment of Mr. Clifford Keith Stevens to the post.
§ 5.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY
§ The Committee authorised proposed new scales of salary that are under negotiation with the Treasury for the Clerk of the Records, Assistant Clerk of the Records, Editor of Debates, Assistant Editor of Debates and Reporters.
§ The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Establishments Circulars No. 8/54 (Messengerial grades) and No. 21/54 (Women Cleaners) to analogous grades of the staff of the House of Lords, and also consequential increases in superannuation awards to certain of the staff who retired recently.
§ The Committee authorised a further pay increase to the Custodian staff.
1033§ 6.—SUPERANNUATION
§ The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 18/54 (Pensions (Increase) Act, 1954) dated April 21, 1954, to such of the staff of the House of Lords to whom it applies.
§ 7.—RETIREMENT OF A REPORTER
§ The Committee were informed of the resignation of Mr. Frank Watkins on the grounds of ill health.
§ The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts, 1859 to 1949, to Mr. Watkins after seven completed years' service.
§ 8.—CUSTODIAN—DUE FOR RETIREMENT
§ The Committee sanctioned a pension and an additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Edmund Robert Ellis, who attains sixty-five years of age on September 9, 1954.
§ The Committee were informed that Mr. Ellis will be re-employed as an unestablished Custodian.
§ 9.—HISTORICAL RECORDS
§ The Clerk of the Parliaments reported to the Committee on the latest developments in the preservation of the documents in his custody.
§ The Committee authorised the temporary appointment of two male cleaners to work in the Victoria Tower.
§ The Committee appointed a Sub-Committee to enquire into the whole question of the storage and preservation of the Records in the Victoria Tower. The following Lords were named of the Sub-Committee: The Marquess of Salisbury, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Earl of Munster, the Viscount Samuel, the Lord Teynham, the Lord Amulree and the Lord Shepherd with the Clerk of the Parliaments.
§ 10.—CIRCULATION OF PAPERS
§ In order to prevent wastage in the circulation of Parliamentary Papers, the Committee directed that at the beginning of every new Parliament a notice should be sent out to all Peers asking whether they require any Parliamentary Papers to be sent to them, and if so which.
§ Moved, That the Report be now considered.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
THE EARL OF DROGHEDAMy Lords, I do not think there is anything in the Report of the Select Committee to which I need draw your Lordships' attention. I therefore beg formally to move that it be agreed to.
§ Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(The Earl of Drogheda.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.