§ 3.22 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERD rose to move, That the Lord Diamond be appointed, pursuant to the First Report from the Select Committee on the House of Lords Offices, Deputy Chairman of Committees for this Session. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg leave to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. Your Lordships will know that the Offices Committee recommended the creation of a new post of a paid Deputy Chairman of Committees. The Report of this Committee was agreed to by your Lordships' House on Tuesday and, as your Lordships will see, my noble friend (if I may still so call him) Lord Diamond has agreed to be the first holder of this new post. I am sure that the whole House will welcome this. His principal duties will be to take the chair of the new European Communities Committee; but as Deputy Chairman of Committees he will deputise for the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, in connection with many other duties which the Lord Chairman of Committees may ask him to undertake.
§ Moved, That the Lord Diamond be appointed, pursuant to the First Report from the Select Committee on the House of Lords Offices, Deputy Chairman of Committees for this Session.—(Lord Shepherd.)
§ LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, I should like to support this Motion. As those of your Lordships who took part in the long debate in the Procedure Committee before the Dissolution of Parliament will recall, this is an extremely important new post. With the long experience of the noble Lord, Lord Diamond, and in view of the high regard in which 199 he is held in all parts of the House, all noble Lords will be in his debt for taking on this work. I can assure the noble Lord that he will have the support of all Members on this side of the House in his new task.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, I should just like to add that we, from these Benches, have exactly the same feeling. I think that the House is indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Diamond, for the courage he has shown in shouldering this very onerous office.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.