HL Deb 28 March 1961 vol 230 cc47-9

2.44 p.m.

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

The Committee reported as follows:

1.—LIBRARY

A Report from the Library Sub-Committee for the year 1960 was laid before the Committee.

2.—RECORDS OF THE HOUSE

  1. (a) The Committee were informed of the purchase of further historical manuscripts from Lord Brave and sanctioned the payment of the cost of the documents.
  2. (b) The Committee were informed of the progress of the work of reconstruction in the Victoria Tower. The Committee authorised the appointment of two Paperkeepers on the staff of the Clerk of the Parliaments and an additional Housemaid on the staff of the Lord Great Chamberlain to work in the Record Office on or after May 1, 1961, in the place of the two temporary male cleaners.

3.—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 November 1, 1960.

4.—REVISED SCALES OF PAY

The Committee sanctioned the application of the following Establishments Circulars:—

to analogous grades of the staff of the House of Lords.

The Committee authorised the consequential increase in the Estimate for 1961–62.

5.—SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE 1960–61

The Committee approved a Supplementary Estimate for the year 1960–61 submitted to meet expected excess expenditure due mainly to the further provision required for revised rates of pay, two new posts on the staff and increase in Shorthand Writer's fees, partly offset by savings on staff vacancies and changes and an increase in Appropriations-in-Aid.

6.—PALACE OF WESTMINSTER>

The Committee sanctioned the payment for additional Police required for the opening of the Palace of Westminster to the public for a further weekday in August in addition to Mondays and Saturdays.

7.—RETIREMENT OF PRINCIPAL DOORKEEPER

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a revised pension and additional allowance under the Superannuation Acts to Mr. Herbert John Wootton. M.M., B.E.M., with effect from December 9, 1960.

8.—RESIGNATION OF HOUSEMAID

The Committee sanctioned the payment of a gratuity under the Superannuation Acts to Mrs. A. L. Lambert, who resigned on January 21, 1961.

9.—REPORT FROM SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE REFRESHMENT DEPARTMENT

The Committee were informed of the resignation of Miss F. W. Hoath. the Superintendent of the Refreshment Department and, on the recommendation of the Sub-Committee on the Refreshment Department, authorised the payment from the House of Lords Vote of a gratuity to Miss F. W. Hoath in recognition of her long and valuable service to the House of Lords.

10.—PARLIAMENTARY LOBBY JOURNALISTS

The Committee approved the following proposals for improving facilities for Lobby Correspondents in the House:

  1. 1. That the identity cards of Lobby Correspondents be made out in their own names and not merely in the name of the newspaper or agency which they represent.
  2. 2. That an official list of all Lobby Correspondents together with the newspaper or agency which they represent be prepared and made available in the Prince's Chamber, Peers' Lobby and in the Printed Paper Office.
  3. 3. That all those on this list be entitled to use the Peers' Lobby and the corridor between the Peers' staircase and the Prince's Chamber for interviewing Peers.
  4. 4. That all those on this list be entitled to receive the same facilities from the Printed Paper Office as they at present receive from the Vote Office in the House of Commons.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR)

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

Moved that the Report be now considered.—(Lord Merthyr.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

LORD MERTHYR

My Lords, I beg to move that this Report be now agreed to. I do not think that there are in it any special matters to which I need call attention at this stage, but I shall be only too happy to try to answer any questions which any noble Lord may wish to arise. I beg to move.

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

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, I should think that the item in this Report that anybody thinks more about than anything else is the last section—that is, concerning the Parliamentary Lobby journalists. I should hope that, the Offices Committee having come to this recommendation, there will be something given on the other side from the Parliamentary journalists. I cannot say that in the past we have excited very much attendance upon Members of the House of Peers from the Lobby journalists; and sometimes, perhaps, we feel that on a particular matter we raise—sometimes on opportunities that are hardly ever afforded in the other place—something useful could he done. At any rate, perhaps we may sometimes be more adequately reported if this scheme works properly with the Lobby journalists.

LORD MERTHYR

My Lords, I should like to inform the noble Viscount, in answer to his question, that I think that that really was the main purpose of this proposition. It is thought that, if the House agrees to this part of the Report, it will bring about a result coinciding with what the noble Viscount has in mind.

On Question, Motion agreed to.