HL Deb 22 January 1991 vol 525 cc80-2

2.53 p.m.

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.

Moved, That the first report from the Select Committee be agreed to (HL Paper 15).—(The Chairman of Committees.)

Following is the report referred to:

1 Appointment of Sub-Committees

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

  1. (a) Library Sub-Committee
  2. (b) Refreshment Department Sub-Committee
  3. (c) Works of Art Sub-Committee
  4. (d) Computer Sub-Committee
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  5. (e) Staff of the House Sub-Committee
  6. (f) Finance Sub-Committee
  7. (g) Administration Sub-Committee

2. Staff of the House.

A report from the Staff of the House Sub-Committee was made to the Committee who agreed to:

  1. (a) the creation of an additional Personal Secretary (Grade 4) post to serve the Reading Clerk;
  2. (b) a six month extension for the two temporary word processor operator posts in the Hansard Office;
  3. (c) the creation of an additional Hansard word processor post, initially for a period of one year;
  4. (d) the upgrading of one waiter/waitress post in the Refreshment Department from Band 6 to Band 10; and
  5. (e) the upgrading of one General Assistant post in the Refreshment Department from Band 2 to Band 4.

3. Retirement of the Clerk of the Parliaments

The Committee wish to record, on the occasion of his retirement, their deep gratitude for the assistance that they have received from Sir John Sainty during the seven years he has served as Clerk of the Parliaments and Accounting Officer for the House of Lords Vote.

4. Parliament Office

The Committee were informed that, following the retirement of Sir John Sainty as Clerk of the Parliaments, Mr. P. D. G. Hayter, on his appointment as Reading Clerk, would also become Principal Finance Officer, that Mr. M. G. Pownall would be appointed Principal Clerk of the Committee and Overseas Offices and that Mr. B. P. Keith would be appointed Principal Clerk of Private Bills. The Committee were also informed of the promotions of Mr. W. G. Sleath to Senior Clerk.

5 Accommodation in the Chamber for Opposition Research Staff

The Committee recommend that the experimental provision of accommodation in the clerks box for up to three advisers to those Lords who sit on the Opposition front benches should be made permanent; and that the accommodation should be made available for this purpose during all stages of public bills, except second reading.

6 Computer Developments

The Committee were notified of the appointment of Mrs. S. White as House of Lords Computer Executive. The Committee also approved arrangements to delegate to the Clerk of the Parliaments the administrative procedures for authorising expenditure on computer projects for the House of Lords Offices.

8 Medical Facilities

The Committee were informed of a proposal for additional nursing staff at the Palace of Westminster and authorised payments of a proportion of the cost.

9 Architectural Archive

The Committee authorised provision in the Record Office Fund for the photocopying of plans and drawings of the Palace of Westminster for the Architectural Archive.

10 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.

11 Revised Scales of Pay and Allowances

The Committee confirmed the application of the following civil service memoranda to staff of the House of Lords:—

  1. (a) CM/934 Subsistence and Meal Allowances.
  2. (b) CM/935 Pay of Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 and staff linked to I.P.M.S. grades.
  3. (c) GM/456 Fees to Specialist Advisers.
  4. (d) IM 90/3 Industrial staff pay.

12 Superannuation

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

  1. (a) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. J. Gilbane, Cleaner, who retired on 14th April 1990.
  2. (b) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. G. R. Roberts, Cleaner, who retired on ill-health grounds on 23rd April 1990.
  3. (c) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. J. R. Ryder, Head Cleaner, who retired on 19th May 1990.
  4. (d) Revised pension and lump sum to Mrs. B. Howlett, Cleaner, who retired on 16th June 1990.
  5. (e) Supplementary death benefit to personal representative of Mr. C. W. Hunt, former Senior Clerical Officer, who died on 26th February 1990.
  6. (f) Revised pension and lump sum to Mr. W. Grant, Executive Officer, who retired on 24th June 1990.
  7. (g) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. J. E. Watts, Cleaner, who retired on 22nd September 1990.
  8. (h) Compensation payments, preserved pension and lump sum to Mr. I. S. Anderson, Executive Officer, who retired on 1st October 1990.
  9. (i) Pension and lump sum to Mr. W. J. D. Low, Executive Officer, who retired on ill-health grounds on 1st November 1990.
  10. (j) Pension and lump sum to Mrs. I. G. E. Reardon, Cleaner, who retired on 3rd November 1990.
  11. (k) Preserved pension and lump sum to Miss E. M. McCaffrey, Legal Officer, who resigned on 28th October 1988.
  12. (l) Preserved pension and lump sum to Mr. C. J. Headman, General Assistant, who resigned on 27th May 1988.