HL Deb 19 July 1955 vol 193 cc813-5

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1. APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES

(1) LIBRARY The Sub-Committee on the Library was appointed as follows: E. Ilchester, E. Drogheda, E. Bessborough, V. Mersey, V. Soulbury, V. Simonds (Chairman), L. Reid, L. Burden, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

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

(3) WINDOWS OF THE HOUSE The Sub-Committee on the Windows of the House was appointed as follows: D. Wellington, M. Salisbury, E. Drogheda, E. Munster, V. Mersey, E. Crawford, L. Burden, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments. (4) The Sub-Committee on the War Memorial was appointed as follows: D. Wellington, V. Esher, V. Stansgate, L. Methuen, and the Lord Great Chamberlain.

(5) ACCOMMODATION The Sub-Committee on accommodation in the House of Lords was appointed as follows: E. Fortescue, L. Teynham (Chairman), E. Lucan, L. Rea, L. Burden, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

(6) VICTORIA TOWER The Sub-Committee on the Housing of Historical Documents in the Victoria Tower was appointed as follows: M. Salisbury, E. Munster, V. Thurso, L. Teynham, L. Amulree, E. Lucan, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

2.—SUBSCRIPTIONS The Report of the Sub-Committee was approved, and ordered to be circulated to Peers.

3.—NAUTICAL ASSESSORS The Committee considered the payments made to Nautical Assessors attending an Appeal in the House of Lords in an Admiralty action and sanctioned the application to this House of the revised scale of fees laid down in Statutory Instrument 1954 No. 1025 (L.7), The Rules of the Supreme Court (Trinity Masters' Fees), 1954, with effect from 1st October, 1954. The Committee also sanctioned the continuance of the payment to assessors of travelling expenses to the extent of first class railway fare between place of residence and London in connection with attendances at the House.

4.—EQUAL PAY SCHEME The Committee sanctioned the appropriate scales of pay for women on the House of Lords staff in accordance with Treasury Establishments Circular No. 10/55, dated 16th February, 1955.

5.—CONSOLIDATION OF ALLOWANCES The Committee approved the application of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 11/55, dated 29th March, 1955, providing for the consolidation of allowances for special duties, to members of the staff of the House of Lords to whom it applied.

6.—SENIOR OFFICE ASSISTANT The Committee authorised the application of the senior scale of salary to the post of Office Assistant engaged in the Public Bill Office.

7.—OFFICE OF THE LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN The Committee approved the payment of a gratuity under section 39 (2) of the Superannuation Act, 1949, to Miss J. E. M. Everard, a former clerk. The Committee sanctioned an additional payment to the clerk in the Lord Great Chamberlain's Department for special duties in connection with temporary Civil Defence arrangements.

8.—EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS DURING TRANSPORT STRIKE The Committee sanctioned the application of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 1/55, dated 4th January, 1955, providing for a special mileage allowance on the use of private motor vehicles during the recent Emergency, to any officer or official of the House of Lords. The Committee also authorised the Clerk of the Parliaments in his discretion to refund the cost of extra travel expenditure incurred by any member of the staff of the House of Lords. The Committee requested the Clerk of the Parliaments to take up with the Treasury the question of travel expenditure incurred by Peers during the Railway Strike.

9.—HOUSEMAIDS The Committee sanctioned an increase in the rate of pay of the Housemaids in accordance with Treasury Establishments Circular No. 23/55, dated 30th June, 1955, relating to the pay of women cleaners.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DROGHEDA)

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now considered.

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

THE EARL OF DROGHEDA

My Lords, there is nothing in this Report to which I need draw the special attention of your Lordships. I beg to move that it be agreed to.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.