HL Deb 17 April 1957 vol 203 cc102-4

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—OFFICIAL SHORTHAND WRITER.

The Committee approved an increase in the scale of fees for the Official Shorthand Writer as agreed with the House of Commons and the Treasury, with effect from the 1st April, 1957. The Committee were informed of negotiations with the Treasury for an increase in the annual retaining fee, and authorised the payment of the revised fee when agreed.

2.—HANSARD TEMPORARY STAFF.

The Committee sanctioned the payment from the 1st January, 1957, to temporary reporters of the revised attendance fee as set out in the appendix to Treasury Establishments Circular No. 14/57, dated 20th March, 1957.

3.—CUSTODIANS.

The Committee sanctioned the application to the Custodian staff of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 15/57, dated 1st April, 1957, relating to shift allowances.

4.—REVISION OF ALLOWANCES.

The Committee approved the application of Treasury Establishments Circular No. 8/57, dated 27th February, 1957, providing for the revision of allowances for special duties with effect from 1st July, 1956, to members of the staff of the House of Lords to whom it applied. The Committee also sanctioned a consequential increase in the superannuation award to Mr. P. Johnson.

5.—ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE.

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee that he had appointed Mr. R. W. Hill, the Assistant Accountant, to be Receiver of Fees and Accountant on Mr. P. Johnson's retirement, Mr. E. W. Field as Assistant Accountant and Mr. R. A. Devin to the executive post, all with effect from 1st March, 1957.

6.—RETIREMENT OF A CUSTODIAN.

The Committee were informed of the retirement of Lionel Grantley Fitzhardinge Berkeley 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. Berkeley after 8 completed years' service.

7.—LIBRARY SUB-COMMITTEE.

The Committee have considered the Report from the Sub-Committee on the Library, and have agreed that the Viscount Esher should be co-opted as a member of the Sub-Committee. They have also noted the view of the Sub-Committee that, in the not very distant future, it will be necessary to make further provision for the storage of books.

8.—RECORD COPIES OF PUBLIC ACTS.

The Committee considered whether the record copies of Public General Acts, as well as of Private Acts, should be printed on good durable paper instead of vellum, but with a vellum cover. They have appointed a Sub-Committee, consisting of the Earl of Limerick, the Earl of Listowel, the Lord Merthyr and the Lord Rea, to study this question and report.

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, I do not think that there is anything in this Report to which I should draw your Lordship's especial attention, and therefore I beg to move that the Report be approved.

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

On Question, Motion agreed to.