HL Deb 15 February 1967 vol 280 cc287-8
LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask the Leader of the House whether he considers it proper that a Peer should be charged fees by both Houses of Parliament in respect of the discharge of certain of his Parliamentary duties and whether he is prepared to initiate action to rectify this anomaly.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)

My Lords, no fee is charged to a Peer by either House, so far as I am aware, for fulfilling any Parliamentary duty. As regards the last part of the Question, there is, in my view, no anomaly here which needs to be rectified.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl the Leader of the House whether he considers that attempting to amend a Statutory Instrument by the only method open to a Member of either House is not part of his Parliamentary duties? Further, is the noble Earl aware that since I asked a Question about a fortnight ago on this subject I have received a second account for the same amount? This time it is from the Clerk of the Fees of the House of Commons, saying this at the bottom: The Clerk of the Fees requests that the above Account may be paid at the Fees Office before Twelve o'clock on Tuesday, the 14th instant, he being required by the orders of The Speaker of the 9th February, 1844, to make a Return to him of the unpaid Accounts at half-past Twelve o'clock on every Tuesday. It then concludes: Payment by Cheque preferred.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I have a very high opinion of the financial sagacity of my noble relative. When he was my trustee I would always follow his advice, and perhaps he will now follow mine, which is to pay up before worse befalls him.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, may I ask the Leader of the House, who gave me very little trouble when I was his trustee, one further question? Can he at least give me an assurance that I shall not receive a third account for the same amount from the office of the Lord Privy Seal?

THE EARL OF LONGFORD

My Lords, I hope so, but I am not making any promises. I think the noble Lord is going to be unlucky over this.