HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICES

HL Deb 14 November 1972 vol 336 cc601-3

3.1 p.m.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

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

Moved, That the Select Committee on the House of Lords Offices be appointed; and that the Lords following with the Lord Chancellor and the Chairman of Commitees, be named of the Committee:

• The Lord Privy Seal (E. Jellicoe),
• D. Atholl,
• M. Cholmondeley,
• Alexander of Tunis,
• E. Dundonald,
• E. St. Aldwyn,
• E. Selkirk,
• V. Hood,
• V. Massereene and Ferrard,
• V. Simon,
• L. Aberdare,
• L. Amulree,
• L. Auckland,
• L. Beswick,
• L. Beaumont of Whitley,
• L. Brooke of Cumnor,
• B. Brooke of Ystradfellte,
• L. Byers,
• L. Champion,
• L. Clifford of Chudleigh,
• L. Diamond,
• B. Emmet of Amberley,
• L. Fiske,
• L. Gardiner,
• B. Gaitskell,
• L. Granville of Eye,
• L. Henderson,
• L. Hilton of Upton,
• L. Hunt,
• B. Hylton-Foster,
• L. Ironside,
• B. Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe,
• L. Lucas of Chilworth,
• L. Maybray-King,
• L. Mowbray and Stourton,
• L. Nugent of Guildford,
602
• L. O'Hagan,
• L. Orr-Ewing,
• B. Phillips,
• L. Platt,
• L. Popplewell,
• Ly. Ruthven of Freeland,
• B. Seear,
• Ly. Sempill,
• L. Shackleton,
• L. Shepherd,
• L. Strabolgi,
• L. Strang,
• L. Trefgarne,
• L. Wells-Pestell,
• L. Wilberforce;

That the Committee have leave to report from time to time.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

LORD SHINWELL

My Lords, forgive my curiosity, but can the noble Earl, the Lord Chairman of Committees, explain to your Lordships' House why more than 50 Members of your Lordships' House are nominated for this Committee? Why so many? It looks like a mass meeting.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

Yes, my Lords; I welcome the noble Lord's question. The main purpose of this Committee is to represent a cross-section of the House, of all Parties, the Front Benches and the Back Benches, and of course the Independents, and for that reason it has to be a large Committee. I would remind the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, that most of the work of this Committee is done by a few very hard working sub-committees, the Administration sub-committee, the Library sub-committee, the Refreshment Department sub-committee, and the Works of Art sub-committee. So I think he can be satisfied that in spite of the size of the Committee it does not for that reason lose the necessary efficiency.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I wonder whether I could ask the noble Earl a question. My recollection is that when we considered the nature of these special committees the Aberdare Working Party, I think it was, set up by the Leader, recommended a number of changes, including that of making a number of committees smaller, but deliberately came to the view that there were special reasons why this Committee should be large. This matter was discussed and agreed upon in your Lordships' House. That is my recollection; I am not sure whether it is correct.

THE EARL OF LISTOWEL

My Lords, the noble Lord, the Leader of the Opposition, is entirely correct; there was no recommendation that this Committee should be reduced in size.

On Question, Motion agreed to.