HL Deb 15 December 1982 vol 437 cc602-5
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)

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

I would draw your Lordships' attention, my Lords, to one item in the report, Item 2, Staff of the House. It is proposed to make changes in the membership of the sub-committee on the Staff of the House, and I welcome in particular the fact that the noble Baroness the Leader of the House will be joining the committee as well as the noble Baroness, Lady Seear. Some of your Lordships may be interested to know that that will result in a female majority on the committee, a unique event, I think, in your Lordships' House.

It is also proposed to appoint the same Staff Inspector as in another place. The object of these changes is to ensure that as soon as possible, our staff are paid on the same basis as comparable staff in another place. I beg to move.

Moved, That the First Report from the Select Committee be agreed to.—(Lord Aberdare.)

The report was as follows:

1. Appointment of Sub-Committees

The following members of the Committee were appointed to the Sub-Committee:

  1. (a) Administration Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Gentlemen Usher of the Black Rod.

With the power to co-opt further Lords.

  1. (b) Library Sub-Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint their own Chairman.

  1. (c) Refreshment Sub-Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint their own Chairman.

  1. (d) Staff of the House Sub-Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

With power to co-opt further Lords.

  1. (e) Finance Sub-Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords.

  1. (f) Works of Art Sub-Committee

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint their own Chairman.

  1. (g) Sub-Committee on Computers

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords and to appoint their own Chairman.

2. Staff of the House

The Committee agreed that membership of the Sub-Committee on the Staff of the House be expanded to include the Leader of the House and a Lord from either the Cross-Benches or the minority parties. They agreed that the Baroness Seear should be co-opted to the Sub-Committee for this Session to complete the membership of the Sub-Committee as appointed above.

The Committee also agreed new terms of reference for the Sub-Committee as follows: To concern themselves with all staff in the service of the House, with special reference to their well-being and efficiency and to ensure, on behalf of the Offices Committee, that, so far as is consistent with the requirement of the House, conditions of service in the House are kept broadly in line with those in the House of Commons".

The Committee approved the creation of an additional post of Staff Inspector on a shared basis with the House of Commons and the terms of reference proposed for the Staff Inspector in the House of Lords.

The Committee agreed that the Staff Inspector should advise the Clerk of the Parliaments and Black Rod on the assimilation as soon as possible of the actual gradings of staff now in post in the Lords with those of comparable staff in the Commons.

3. Refreshment Department

A statement of accounts for the financial year 1981–82 was laid before the Committee and approved.

4. Photograph of the House in Session

The Committee considered certain photographs of the House in session for permanent display.

5. Works of Art

The Committee were informed of progress on the work of the carving of a bust of Lord Home of the Hirsel.

6. Parliament Office

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee of the promotion of Mr. D. F. Slater to Senior Clerk and of the appointments of Miss F. P. Tudor and Miss C. M. Kay as Clerks in the Parliament Office.

The Committee were also informed of the appointment of Mr. G. A. Preston as Assistant Counsel to the Chairman of Committees in the place of Mr. T. G. Talbot, C.B., Q.C., who has retired. The Committee expressed their warm appreciation of Mr. Talbot's long and valuable service to the House.

The Committee were also informed of the impending retirement of Mr. C. K. Stevens. Assistant Clerk of the Journals, after 36 years' service in the House of Lords. The Committee expressed their warm appreciation of Mr. Stevens' long and valuable service to the House.

7. Cleaners

The Committee agreed that the Civil Service Union should be granted representative capacity for the housemaids on the staff of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

8. Parliamentary Delegations

The Committee agreed revised arrangements for the reimbursement of expenses of Lords' delegates attending non-routine meetings of international assemblies.

9. Foreign Visits

The Committee agreed that provision should be made for the expenses of representatives of the House travelling abroad to attend (a) the conference on delegated legislation to be held in Canada in April 1983 and (b) a meeting in Bonn on matters relating to security in early 1983.

10. Working Group on Data Processing

The Committee agreed that provision be made for the share of the cost of a meeting of the International Working Group on Data Processing to be held at Westminster in 1983–84.

11. Revised Scales of Pay and Allowances

The Committee confirmed the application of the following Memoranda to applicable staff of the House of Lords:

IM 82/4 Revised rates of pay for industrial staff
CM/555 Revised responsibility allowances
CM/559 Revised typing proficiency payments
CM/563 Subsistence and meal allowances
CM/583 Revised rates of pay for non-industrial staff
CM/584 Revised London Weighting
IM 82/12 Revised London Weighting for Refreshment Department staff

12. Official Shorthand Writer

The Committee approved a revision in the scale of fees of the Official Shorthand Writer.

13. Hansard Reporting Staff

The Committee approved a revision in the payments to Editors and Reporters for late-night duties and in the fees payable to temporary reporters and transcribers.

14. Superannuation

The Committee were notified of the following awards:

  1. (i) Revised pension and lump sum to T. G. Talbot. C.B., Q.C., Assistant Counsel to the Chairman of Committees, on final retirement from 1st October 1982.
  2. (ii) Pension and lump sum to C. K. Stevens, Assistant Clerk of the Journals, on retirement from 9th January 1983.
  3. (iii) Pension and lump sum to A. H. Town, Personal Assistant to Lords of Appeal, on retirement from 1st November 1982.
  4. (iv) Pension and lump sum to L. W. Burton, Clerical Officer, on retirement from 1st January 1983.
  5. (v) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. A. Bellchambers, Cleaner/Housemaid, on final retirement from 27th July 1982.
  6. (vi) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. J. Williams, Housemaid, on formal retirement from 3rd September 1982.
  7. (vii) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. M. Talbot, Housemaid, on final retirement from 22nd May 1982.
    8. 605
  8. (viii) Supplementary death benefit to personal representative of T. J. Rooney (deceased) former Porter, who died on 27th March 1982.
  9. (ix) Short service payment to K. M. Woods, Executive Officer, who resigned on 30th September 1982.
  10. (x) Short service payment to Mrs. J. E. Risdon, Personal Secretary, who resigned on 2nd July 1982.
  11. (xi) Short service payment to Mrs. M. A. Larthe de Langladurc. Personal Secretary, who resigned on 24th September 1982.
  12. (xii) Short service payment to Miss P. M. Dean, Clerical Officer, who resigned on 22nd October 1982.
  13. (xiii) Short service payment to Mrs. A. McCormack. Barmaid Assistant, who resigned on 12th November 1982.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

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