EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, you will remember that the House agreed that we should try out some means of recording the length of speeches in this House. I should like to draw your Lordships' attention to the three "mock-up' clocks now exhibited in the Chamber. The one opposite me and the one behind me are exactly as they will be; the one under the clock will have two figures instead of the single one at present exhibited and both figures will be of the same size as the present one. In order that the House of Lords Offices Committee, which meets to-morrow, can have an indication of whether the House approves of these devices I would ask your Lordships to communicate any views you have to the Chairman of Committees 318 before four o'clock to-morrow so that he can report to that Committee.
May I draw your Lordships' attention to the photographic pass machine which is at present installed in the Royal Gallery and ask your Lordships if you would be good enough to equip yourselves with a pass? As you will no doubt be aware, all who work in the Palace of Westminster have to carry passes and the security authorities have suggested that if Peers would co-operate and carry passes it would greatly assist in the security of this Palace. There are a number of new policemen and custodians who have not yet had the opportunity of knowing what all your Lordships look like. It would considerably reduce their embarrassment in asking people whether they are Peers if the latter were able to produce passes. May I emphasise that there is no question of compulsion in this matter, but I hope that your Lordships will agree that we should do all we can to ease the burden of Black Rod in the matter of security.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I think Members of your Lordships' House are somewhat stunned by what is now appearing on these clocks. If I could look backwards I should see that the noble Earl appears to have been speaking for 46 minutes and I have been speaking for 23 minutes. I would only say that these devices do not appear to be in accordance with the recommendation, which was for clocks. But rather than start a debate now I would merely suggest, on the matter of requesting opinions before tomorrow's Offices Committee meeting (and so far as I know, this subject is not even on the agenda for the Offices Committee), that it may be desirable to take a little longer over this.
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, it only came to light yesterday that it would be possible to have these clocks on view, and I thought it would be to the advantage of the House at least to be able to see them. It may be that the Offices Committee, most of whom presumably will have seen them to-day, will consider that further thought needs to be given to the matter. No doubt the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton, will himself make representations at the meeting of the Offices Committee.
§ LORD SHACKLETONIs it going to be working to-day? Are we all to be frozen at 46 minutes and at 23 minutes to-day?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I think the intention is to switch off the clock lights when we finish this little discussion. These are "mock-ups" to show what they will look like. The figure 46 would turn into 47 at the end of one minute; and I hope that it would be the same on this side.