HL Deb 31 March 1988 vol 495 cc868-71

11.32 a.m.

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Aberdare)

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

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

The report read as follows:

1. SUB-COMMITTEES

The Committee approved the appointments of Lord Belstead as a member of the Staff of the House Sub-Committee in place of Viscount Whitelaw and Lord Dainton as Chairman of the Library Sub-Committee and as a member of the Computer, Finance and Administration Sub-Committees in place of Earl Ferrers.

2. STAFF OF THE HOUSE

The Committee agreed to the creation of two temporary posts of Committee Specialist Assistant for a period of two years and to the appointment of an additional part-time Clerical Officer in the Refreshment Department.

The Committee also agreed that the merged National Union of Civil and Public Servants should be granted representative capacity for members of the Union employed as Attendants and Housemaids.

3. PARLIAMENT OFFICE

The Committee were informed that following Mr. J. E. Grey's retirement it was proposed that Mr. M. A. J. Wheeler-Booth, his successor as Clerk Assistant, should retain the duties of Clerk of the Journals and assume a supervisory role of the Accountants and Establishment Offices; that Mr. J. M. Davies on his appointment as Reading Clerk should assume the duties of Principal Clerk, Public Bill Office; that Mr. M. G. Pownall should be appointed Principal Clerk, Private Bill and Overseas Offices; that Mr. D. R. Beamish, a Chief Clerk, should replace Mr. Pownall as Establishment Officer and that Mr. S. P. Burton had been appointed as Clerk to fill the consequential vacancy.

The Committee agreed a change in the pay assimilation terms on regarding of the Deputy Librarian and Deputy Clerk of the Records and authorised an extension of service and revised fee for the temporary part-time archivist employed in the Record Office.

4. INSURANCE FOR LORDS

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

5. PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

The Committee approved a revised administrative guide for members of the United Kingdom delegation to European assemblies and authorised revised rates of subsistence.

6. CONFERENCES

The Committee agreed to provision being made in the House of Lords' Vote to meet a share of the cost of the third Commonwealth Delegated Legislation Conference and the annual session of the North Atlantic Assembly to be held in London in 1989 and 1990 respectively.

7. HOUSE OF LORDS' FEES

The Committee considered the fees payable on Judicial proceedings and Peerage Claims and approved a revision, with effect from 12th April 1988, as follows:—

(a) Fees on Judicial Proceedings £
Lodgment of Petition of Appeal 24
Entering Appearance 6
Issue of Order of Service 24
Return of Recognisance 24
Lodgment of Petition not referred to Appeal Committee 24
Lodgment of Joint Petition, from each Party thereto 12
Lodgment of Petition referred to Appeal Committee (including report thereon) 30
Application to waive Security for Costs 12
Lodgment of Case, including laying Case on the Table, entering Appeal in Cause List, Bar fee and Counsel attending 120
Lodgment of Joint Case, including laying Case on the Table, entering Appeal in Cause List, Bar fee and Counsel attending 240
Application to set down for Hearing 24
Issue of Final Judgment 30
(b) Fees on Peerage Claims
Petition of Claimant 24
For each of the first 3 days on which the Committee for Privileges meets 60
For each subsequent day 85
Order for Attendance of a Witness 24
Resolution and Judgment 85
(c) Fees on Irish Peerage Claims
On presentation of Petition 24
Lord Chancellor's Report 24
Order made thereon 24

8. REVISED SCALES OF PAY AND ALLOWANCES

The Committee confirmed the application of the following Civil Service memoranda to staff of the House of Lords:—

CM/819 Discretionary increments and performance points for senior administrative staff.
CM/826 Revised scales of pay for executive grades.
IM 87/12 London Weighting for industrial staff.

9. HANSARD REPORTING STAFF

The Committee authorised the revision of late night attendance fees and allowances to permanent staff and attendance fees to temporary reporters.

10. OFFICIAL SHORTHAND WRITER

The Committee authorised a revised scale of fees for the Shorthand Writer and the introduction of a supplementary fee for the supply of evidence on disk.

11. UNIFORM ALLOWANCES

The Committee authorised an increase in the allowances paid to Clerks at the Table, the Gentleman Usher and Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod and Doorkeepers for the purchase and maintenance of dress clothes.

12. SUPERANNUATION

The Committee were notified of the following awards made under the House of Lords' Staff Pension Scheme:—

  1. (a) Pension and lump sum to Mr. L. F. Rutterford, Senior Clerk, who retired on 9th January 1988.
  2. (b) Pension and lump sum to Mr. P. M. Eglinton, Senior Reporter, who retired on 1st February 1988.
  3. (c) Pension and lump sum to Mr. A. M. Daws, Senior Reporter, who retired on 1st February 1988.
  4. (d) Pension and lump sum to Mr. J. O'Halloran, Attendant, who retired on ill-health grounds, on 1st January 1988.
  5. (e) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. E. A. McLean, General Assistant, who retired on 1st January 1988.
  6. (f) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. E. M. Steeves, General Assistant, who retired on 23rd January 1988.
  7. (g) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. D. E. Weirich, Cleaner, who retired on ill-health grounds, on 10th January 1988.
  8. (h) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. J. Parker, Staff Inspector, who retired on 1st October 1987.
  9. (i) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. J. R. Mellish, Executive Officer, who retired on ill-health grounds, on 1st August 1987.
  10. (j) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. M. E. Curd, Senior Clerical Officer, who retired on 20th December 1986.
  11. (k) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. C. W. Hunt, Senior Clerical Officer, who retired on 21st January 1987.
  12. (l) Short service payment to Miss C. J. Williams, Personal Secretary, who resigned on 8th January 1988.
  13. (m) Short service payment to Mrs. S. L. Peeters, Bar Assistant, who resigned on 21st January 1988.
  14. (n) Short service payment to Miss J. A. Stewart, Assistant Manageress, who resigned on 18th February 1988.
  15. (o) Lump sum death benefit and pension to Mr. H. E. Brind, widower of Mrs. M. A. Brind, former Cleaner, who died on 16th January 1988.
  16. (p) Revised compensation payment, preserved pension and lump sum to Miss J. Thomas, Personal Secretary, who prematurely retired on 22nd November 1987.

The Committee agreed to an increase in the additional lump sum compensation payment made to Miss Thomas.

Lord Shackleton

My Lords, perhaps I may express my appreciation to the Offices Committee for granting both the European Communities Committee and the Science and Technology Committee an additional part-time specialist assistant for a period of two years. The amount of work that our clerks get through on our behalf is amazing. If by any chance the House thinks that we are being over-indulged let me say that I was subjected to a rigorous cross-examination by the Leader of the House on the need for those clerks. Since I see that the next item refers to the Parliament Office, I should like to put on record again how much we owe to the Clerks of the House.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I hope that I am in order in wishing to thank Mr. Grey, who is leaving us. In my experience he has certainly been most helpful and kind to Members who have questions to table. I should like him to know how much that has been appreciated.

Noble Lords

Hear! Hear!

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, perhaps I may first of all thank the noble Lord, Lord Shackleton. It was his persuasive speech, together with that of the noble Baroness, Lady Serota, which impressed us so much that we agreed the additional post of Committee Specialist Assistant available for both the committees.

I am sure that Mr. Grey will have heard with gratitude what the noble Baroness, Lady Burton, said and I am sure that it is felt throughout the House.

On Question, Motion agreed to.