HL Deb 20 January 1982 vol 426 cc612-5
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)

My Lords, I beg to move that the First Report from the Select Committee on House of Lords' Offices be agreed to. I should like to draw special attention to Item 6 in the report headed: Stone Cleaning of the Palace of Westminster". This is not an altogether accurate description of what is in progress. It really is the restoration and renovation of the stonework of the Palace of Westminster, which has deteriorated very badly. At present, the work is in progress in New Palace Yard, as your Lordships no doubt have seen, and is making good progress. It is likely that work will start on the West Front of this building in March, and I am afraid it will cause a certain amount of inconvenience to those of your Lordships who have rooms or who work on that side of the building.

We shall do our utmost to see that that inconvenience is reduced to the absolute minimum, but I am afraid that it will be impossible to avoid it altogether. I am sure that your Lordships will agree that the end is worth the slight inconvenience. I beg to move.

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

The report was as follows:

ORDERED TO REPORT:—

The Committee have met and been attended by the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod.

1. Appointment of Sub-Committees

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

(a) Administration Committee

L. Aberdare L. Kennet
L. Ampthill B. Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe
L. Darling of Hillsborough L. Lucas of Chilworth
L. Denham L. Reilly
V. Eccles B. White
B. Hylton-Foster L. Wigoder

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

With power to co-opt further Lords.

(b) Library Sub-Committee

E. Bessborough L. Lovell-Davis
L. Darling of Hillsborough L. Seebohm
V. Eccles

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

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

(c) Refreshment Sub-Committee

L. Ampthill B. Hylton-Foster
L. Aylestone B. Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe
L. Denham E. St. Aldwyn
L. Greenwood of Rossendale L. Tryon
L. Hayter L. Wigoder

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

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

(d) Staff of the House Sub-Committee

L. Aberdare B. White
L. Nugent of Guildford

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

With power to co-opt further Lords.

(e) Finance Sub-Committee

L. Aberdare V. Eccles
L. Ampthill L. Kennet
L. Darling of Hillsborough B. Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe
L.Denham L. Wigoder

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

With power to co-opt further Lords.

(f) Works of Art Sub-Committee

M. Cholmondeley L. Ponsonby of Shulbrede
V. Eccles L. Reilly
E. Gosford L. Strabolgi

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

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

(g) Sub-Committee on Computers

L. Darling of Hillsborough V. Eccles

With the Clerk of the Parliaments.

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

2. Library

The Committee authorised the regrading of one post of Clerical Officer to Executive Officer.

3. Refreshment Department

The Committee were informed of the terms of the financial arrangements that had been agreed with the Treasury.

A statement of accounts for the financial year 1980–81 was laid before the Committee and approved.

4. Picture of the House in Session

A Report from the Sub-Committee on Works of Art on the subject of a Picture of the House in Session was laid before the Committee.

In view of their earlier decision (4th Report 1980–81) that the House should be photographed in Session, the Committee agreed that a Picture of the House in Session should not be commissioned.

5. Carpet for the Chamber and Prince's Chamber

A Report from the Sub-Committee on Works of Art recommending a design for a new carpet in the Chamber of the House and the Prince's Chamber was laid before the Committee.

The Committee agreed the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee.

6. Stone Cleaning of the Palace of Westminster

The Committee were informed that under the stone cleaning programme for the Palace of Westminster, the next stage would be the cleaning of the West Front of the House of Lords, which was likely to begin in March 1982. The Committee wish to draw the attention of the House to the inevitable inconvenience which will be caused by this work. The Administration Sub-Committee have been asked to consider the details and to ensure that any inconvenience is restricted to the minimum.

7. Insurance for Lords

The Committee approved an increase in the personal accident insurance cover for Lords whilst engaged on Parliamentary duty.

8. Parliament Office

The Clerk of the Parliaments informed the Committee of the following appointments in the Record Office following the retirement of Mr. M. F. Bond, C.B., M.V.O., 0.B.E.:—

The Committee were also informed of the appointments of Mr. J. H. D. Scourfield as Clerk and Mr. P. M. Rees and Mr. H. J. B. Rice as temporary Senior Clerks.

9. Revised Scales of Pay and Allowances

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

  1. (a) CM/499 Revised Rates of Pay
  2. (b) CM/502 Revised Typing Proficiency payments
  3. (c) CM/503 Revised Responsibility allowances
  4. (d) CM/513 Revised London Weighting
  5. (e) CM/518 Subsistence and Meal Allowances
  6. (f) CSDIM (81) No. 2 Revised rates of pay for industrial grades
  7. (g) CSDIM (81) No. 6 Revised London Weighting for industrial grades
giving revised rates of pay and allowances to applicable staff of the House of Lords.

10. Official Shorthand Writer

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

11. Hansard Reporting Staff

The Committee authorised a revision in the fees payable to temporary Reporters.

12. North Atlantic Assembly and European Speakers Conference

The Committee agreed to provision in the House of Lords Vote for a share of the expenses of the annual session of the North Atlantic Assembly and the Conference of European Speakers to be held in London in 1982.

13. Superannuation

The Committee were notified of the following awards:—

  1. (a) Pension and Lump Sum to Mr. M. F. Bond, Principal Clerk, who retired on the 29th October 1981
  2. (b) Pension and Lump Sum to Mr. J. E. Turnbull, Senior Clerk, who retired on the 1st October 1981
  3. (c) Pension and Lump Sum to Mr. M. Widdup, Senior Clerk, who retired on the 12th September 1981
  4. (d) Preserved Pension and Lump Sum to Mr. J. F. Maule, Senior Clerk, who resigned on the 9th October 1981
  5. (e) Short service payment to Mr. F. M. A. Hawkings, Clerk, who resigned on the 25th September 1981
  6. (f) Pension and Lump Sum to Mr. R. C. Williams, Attendant, who retired on the 1st November 1981
  7. (g) Revised Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. J. H. Le Baron Whyte, Reporter, who retired after re-employed service on the 5th December 1981
  8. (h) Revised Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. D. Chandler, Cleaner, who retired after re-employed service on the 21st August 1981
  9. (i) Revised Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. R. White, Cleaner, who retired after re-employed service on the 26th September 1981
  10. (j) Revised Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. C. Frost, Cleaner, who retired on the 5th July 1981
  11. (k) Revised short service payment to Mrs. B. H. O'Halloran, Cleaner, who resigned on the 19th June 1981
  12. (l) Death gratuity to personal representative of the late Mrs. N. M. Healy, Cleaner, who died on the 17th October 1981
    13. 615
  13. (m) Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. M. E. M. Lewis, Cashier, who retires on the 1st January 1982
  14. (n) Revised Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. M. T. White, Cook, who retired on the 6th June 1981
  15. (o) Pension and Lump Sum to Mrs. R. Russell, Cleaner, who retires on the 27th December 1981

On Question, Motion agreed to.