HL Deb 06 August 1975 vol 363 cc1655-8

2.49 p.m.

The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES (The Earl of Listowel)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Fourth Report from the Select Committee be agreed to.

Moved, That the Report be agreed to.—(The Earl of Listowel.)

The Report was as follows:

1. PEERS' WAR MEMORIAL FUND

The Committee accepted a recommendation from the Administration Sub-Committee that the balance remaining in the Peers' War Memorial Fund should be added to the Fund already at the disposal of the Sub-Committee. They recommended that the combined fund should continue to be used, like the Administration Sub-Committee's Fund, for the provision of entertainment and staff amenities. In addition, however, it should be used to make grants, in cases of personal hardship, to members of the staff of the House and their dependants and, for this purpose, it should be administered by the Chairman of Committees, the Clerk of the Parliaments and Black Rod.

2. GENTLEMAN USHER OF THE BLACK ROD

The Committee were informed of the wishes of the Administration Sub-Committee to retain the services of Black Rod, Sir Frank Twiss, as their Agent after his present appointment expires on 31st December 1975.

They recommended that Sir Frank Twiss should continue as Agent of the Administration Sub-Committee until the end of 1977 and that thereafter the appointment should be on an annual basis subject to the wishes of both the Sub-Committee and Sir Frank.

The Committee wish to place on record their appreciation of the services of Sir Frank Twiss both to them and to the House during the past five years.

3. PARLIAMENT OFFICE

The Committee agreed to the regrading of one Senior Clerk to Chief Clerk in the Committee Office; one Higher Clerical Officer to Higher Executive Officer in the Printed Paper Office; and to the restructuring of pay scales for Clerks. They authorised the rates of pay for the posts affected.

The Committee re-considered the staffing requirements of the Select Committee on European Communities and authorised an additional post of Legal Assistant.

The Committee agreed to a new post of Assistant Archivist in the Record Office.

The Committee were informed that the overall complement of the Parliament Office remains unchanged because there will be a coincidental reduction of two Clerical posts.

The Committee also authorised additional provision for temporary secretarial assistance in the Parliament Office.

4. HANSARD REPORTING STAFF

The Committee authorised—

  1. (a) increased charges under the agreement with Haynes Secretarial Services for the supply of typists for the reporting of debates;
  2. (b) revised rates of pay to permanent Reporters acting as Editors for Select Committees on Public Bills; and
  3. (c) the application to Temporary Reporters of revised attendance fees as set out in General Circular GC/89 dated 26th June 1975.

5. OFFICIAL SHORTHAND WRITER

The Committee approved an increase in the fees payable to the Official Shorthand Writer.

6. DEPARTMENT OF GENTLEMAN USHER OF THE BLACK ROD

The Committee authorised the appointment of three additional Housemaids on the staff of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Serjeant-at-Arms.

7. REVISED SCALES OF PAY

The Committee confirmed the application of the following Civil Service Code Memoranda:

  1. (a) CM/4 dated 28th April 1975—Civil Service Pay Agreement, 1974—Revised rates of pay;
  2. (b) CM/S dated 28th April 1975—Proficiency Allowances;
  3. (c) CM/7 dated 15th May 1975—Security Officers;
giving revised rates of pay to applicable staff of the House of Lords.

8. SUPERANNUATION

The Committee sanctioned the payment of the following superannuation awards:

  1. (a) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. R. W. Hill, CBE, Judicial Taxing Clerk (and 1657 former Accountant), who retired on the 1st June, 1975;
  2. (b) Pension and lump sum to Mr. T. H. Bass, MBE, Higher Clerical Officer, who retired on 21st May, 1975;
  3. (c) Supplementary Death Benefit to Widow of J. S. Cloves, deceased, former Attendant, who died on 16th April, 1975;
  4. (d) Preserved pension and lump sum to Mrs. J. M. Wise, Personal Secretary, who resigned on the 30th April, 1975;
  5. (e) Preserved pension and lump sum to Mr. R. G. J. Morrison, Doorkeeper, who resigned on the 4th May, 1975;
  6. (f) Short service gratuity to Miss C. M. Dunford, Personal Secretary, who resigned on 30th April, 1975;
  7. (g) Short service gratuity to Mr. P. D. Green, Reporter, who resigned on the 9th May, 1975;
  8. (h) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. S. G. Farrar, MBE, DSM, Registry Clerk, who retired on the 1st February, 1975;
  9. (i) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. F. C. R. Deacon, MBE, who retired as Higher Executive Officer, on the 24th March, 1975;
  10. (j) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. M. Wager, who retired as Second Principal Doorkeeper on the 18th March, 1975.

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Shepherd)

My Lords, before the House expresses a view on this Report, may I draw your Lordships' attention to paragraph 2, regarding the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. The House will see that the Offices Committee were informed of the wishes of the Administration Sub-Committee to retain the services of Black Rod, Sir Frank Twiss, as their Agent after his present appointment expires on 31st December 1975.

My Lords, we see much of Black Rod, We see him in his ceremonial function, but there is a great deal more behind what he does for your Lordships' House. Much of our convenience, the way in which the House runs, is due to Sir Frank Twiss. I know that I speak on behalf of all noble Lords when I say how pleased we are that he has agreed to continue to serve your Lordships' House; that we are eternally grateful to him for all that he has done in the past, and we look forward to many more years of happy co-operation together.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, this is hardly the moment to pay tribute to somebody from whom we expect to have a great deal more service. Let me just say that there could be nobody in your Lordships' House who, having known Black Rod, would wish to change the senior Service for any other Service.

Lord BYERS

My Lords, from these Benches we too would like to add our appreciation of everything that Black Rod has done for us and for other Members of the House in his term of office so far.

The Earl of LISTOWEL

My Lords, on behalf of the Committee, I should like to thank all the noble Lords who have spoken for their tributes to Black Rod. I need not convey them because he is here in person to hear them.

On Question, Motion agreed to.