HL Deb 19 December 1961 vol 236 cc657-9

2.47 p.m.

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

(a) Library

The Sub-Committee on the Library was appointed as follows: E. Attlee, E. Home, V. Esher, V. Simonds (Chairman), V. Soulbury, L. Birkett, L. Burden, L. Chorley, L. Merthyr, L. Reid, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments.

(b) Refreshment Department

The Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department was appointed as follows: E. St. Aldwyn, L. Amulree, L. Killearn, L. Macpherson of Drumochter, L. Shepherd, B. Swanborough, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, with the Clerk of the Parliaments, with power to co-opt further members and to appoint its own Chairman.

(c)House of Lords' Estimates

The Sub-Committee on the House of Lords' Estimates was appointed as follows: E. St. Aldwyn, E. Lucan, L. Amulree and L. Merthyr (Chairman.)

2.—RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF CLERK, COMMITTEE AND PRIVATE BILL OFFICE

The Committee learnt with regret of the retirement on grounds of ill-health of Mr. Peter Stuart-Heaton and sanctioned the payment to him of a pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts.

3.—RE-ARRANGEMENT OF THE STAFF IN THE PARLIAMENT OFFICE

The Committee were informed that the Clerk of the Parliaments had appointed:—

  1. (a) Mr. David Stephens, C.V.O., the Reading Clerk, to be also Clerk of the Journals in the place of Mr. Henry Montagu Burrows, C.B.E., and authorised the salary of the combined posts from 18th October, 1961.
  2. (b) Mr. James Ashton Valiance White as a Clerk in the Parliament Office in the place of Mr. John Anthony Roberts.

4.—EXAMINER OF PETITIONS FOR PRIVATE BILLS

The Committee were informed of the appointment of Mr. Euan Douglas Graham as Examiner of Petitions for Private Bills in the place of Mr. Peter Stuart-Heaton.

5.—(a) TELEPHONES

The Committee were informed of the installation of additional telephones for the use of Peers.

(b) ACOUSTICS OF THE CHAMBER

The Committee were informed of the position regarding the amplifying system in the Chamber.

6.—HANSARD REPORTING STAFF

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee on the present position regarding the application by the Institution of Professional Civil Servants to be granted representative capacity for the Hansard Reporting Staff; the Committee agreed that representative capacity for the Hansard Reporting Staff should be granted to the Institution on the same terms and conditions as apply to its representation of the corresponding Staff in the House of Commons.

7.—MECHANICAL RECORDING

The Clerk of the Parliaments reported on the possibility of assisting the Hansard Reporters by the mechanical recording of Debates in the House, and the Committee instructed the Clerk of the Parliaments to examine this matter further.

8.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY

The Committee sanctioned the revised scale of pay to the Personal Assistants under Establishments Circular No. 33/61 affecting Clerical Officers.

9.—RETIREMENT OF A DOORKEEPER

The Committee sanctioned a revised pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Herbert John Wootton, M.M., B.E.M., on his retirement on December 8,1961.

10.—RETIREMENT OF A SENIOR CUSTODIAN The Committee sanctioned the payment of a revised gratuity under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Arthur Sheppard, who retired on August 25, 1961.

11.—GRATUITY TO LEGAL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF CUSTODIAN INSPECTOR

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a supplementary death gratuity under Section 2 (2) of the Superannuation Act, 1909, to the legal personal representative of Custodian Inspector Ernest Victor Jacobs, who died on October 29, 1961.

12.—ESTIMATES

The Estimates for the House of Lords for 1962–63 were laid before the Committee and approved.

13.—XEROX COPYING MACHINE

The Committee were informed of the use of this machine, and that it is available in the Registry for the use of Peers; the Committee approved a scale of charges.

14.—HOUSE OF LORDS' CHRISTMAS CARD

The Committee considered the future provision of a House of Lords' Christmas Card, and agreed that the matter should be referred to the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department.

15.—VENTILATION OF THE CHAMBER

The attention of the Committee was drawn to the occurrence of draughts in certain parts of the Chamber; the Lord Great Chamberlain undertook to investigate the matter.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR)

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

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

LORD MERTHYR

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to. I am not aware of any points to which I ought to draw the special attention of your Lordships, but if there are any questions which any noble Lord would like to put to me I will, of course, do my best to answer them.

Moved, That the Report be now agreed to.—(Lord Merthyr.)

On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.