HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES

HL Deb 01 February 1972 vol 327 cc675-8

3.0 p.m.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That the membership of the Select Committee on the House of Lords Offices be reconstituted as follows:

• M. Cholmondeley,
• E. Alexander of Tunis,
• E. Dundee,
• E. Dundonald.
• L. Privy Seal (E. Jellicoe),
• E. St. Aldwyn,
• V. Dilhorne,
• V. Hood,
• V. Massereene and Ferrard,
• L. Aberdare,
• L. Amulree,
• L. Beswick,
• L. Brooke of Cumnor,
• B. Brooke of Ystradfellte,
• L. Byers,
• L. Champion,
• L. Conesford,
• L. Denham,
• B. Emmet of Amberley,
• L. Fiske,
• L. Gardiner,
• L. Granville of Eye,
• L. Hawke,
• L. Henley,
• L. Hilton of Upton,
• L. Hunt,
• B. Hylton-Foster,
• L. Inchyra,
• L. Ironside,
• L. Kennet,
• B. Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe,
• L. Lucas of Chilworth,
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• L. Maybray-King,
• L. Nugent of Guildford,
• L. O'Hagan,
• L. Orr-Ewing,
• B. Phillips,
• L. Popplewell,
• L. Reid,
• L. Robertson of Oakridge,
• Ly. Ruthven of Freeland,
• L. Sainsbury,
• B. Seear,
• Ly. Sempill,
• L. Shackleton,
• L. Shepherd,
• L. Strabolgi,
• L. Strang,
• B. Summerskill,
• L. Trefgarne,
• L. Wade,
• L. Wells-Pestell,

with the Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of Committees.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

LORD ROYLE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl why it is necessary to have 54 people on the Offices Committee of the House of Lords? Will he say what the quorum is? Further, would he tell us the function of the Committee? Finally, is he aware that I am very jealous that my name is not on the membership list?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, before the noble Earl answers that question, to which I know there is a perfectly good answer, may I ask him whether, following the decision of the House on the earlier Procedure Committee Report, this is another of the reconstituted Committees, so that while once again a number of valuable noble Lords have, unfortunately, had to stand down after having rendered yeoman service, equally, we have gained a number of valuable noble Lords on the Committee? I hope that my surmise is correct.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition, and the noble Lord, Lord Royle, for their comments. The size of the Offices Committee is large, but the House decided, on the recommendation of the Procedure Committee in December, to make no substantial reduction in the Committee's present size, the reason being that this Committee deals with the domestic affairs of the House, such as improvements in facilities and accommodation. These are matters which require a Committee that represents every quarter of the House. That accounts for its large size.

The noble Lord, Lord Royle, says that he would be willing to serve on the Committee. May I point out to him that nominations for this Committee are made through the usual channels, and I hope that he will take a future opportunity to draw the attention of the usual channels to his willingness to serve. My reply to the point raised by the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition is that this Committee has been reconstituted in accordance with the decision of the House in December, and account has been taken of the need for a regular turnover in the membership of the Committee. For this purpose 14 senior members of the Committee have retired, and I should like, on behalf of the Committee and I am sure of the House, to express my thanks to those members who have retired after serving the House on this Committee for a number of years. A total of 11 new members have joined the Committee. In that way we are succeeding in getting a turnover in the membership of this important Committee.

LORD ROYLE

My Lords, will the noble Earl permit me to ask one other question; namely, is he sure that all 54 Members will be able to be accommodated in the Moses Room on Thursday afternoons?

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

Yes, my Lords.

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, perhaps it should be pointed out that although this is a large Committee it is divided into a number of sub-committees for specific purposes, and that these subcommittees—the Refreshment Committee, the Library Committee, the Accommodation Committee, and so on—report to the Offices Committee from time to time and do excellent work.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, would not the noble Earl the Lord Chairman agree that the size of this Committee means that it cannot be efficient? It is not a Committee; it is a mass meeting.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, with the leave of the House, may I remind the noble Lord that it is a matter for the House to decide what it regards as being the right size for this Committee.

On Question, Motion agreed to.