§ 3.9 p.m.
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)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 10).—(The Chairman of Committees.)
§ Following is the report referred to:
§ 1. Appointment of Sub-Committees
§ The Committee has appointed the following Sub-Committees and Panel—
§ Finance and Staff Sub-Committee
- L. Boston of Faversham (Chairman),
- V. Cranborne (L. Privy Seal),
- B. Gould of Potternewton,
- L. Jenkins of Hillhead,
- L. Lane of Horsell,
- L. Peston,
- L. Richard,
- L. Renfrew of Kaimsthorn,
- L. Rodgers of Quarry Bank,
- B. Seccombe,
- L. Weatherill.
§ Administration and Works Sub-Committee
- L. Boston of Faversham (Chairman),
- E. Gowrie,
- L. Graham of Edmonton,
- L. Harris of Greenwich,
- B. Hylton-Foster,
- L. McColl of Dulwich,
- L. Peston,
- L. Renfrew of Kaimsthorn,
- B. Serota,
- L. Strathclyde,
- V. Tenby.
§ Library and Computers Sub-Committee
- L. Allen of Abbeydale,
- L. Avebury,
- L. Brougham and Vaux,
- L. Hollick,
- L. Lewis of Newnham,
- L. Macaulay of Bragar,
- L. McIntosh of Haringey,
- L. Mustill,
- L. Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Chairman),
- V. St. Davids,
- B. Trumpington.
§ Refreshment Sub-Committee
- E. Arran,
- V. Allenby of Megiddo,
- B. Birk,
- L. Graham of Edmonton,
- L. Harris of Greenwich,
- B. Hylton-Foster,
- L. Mackie of Benshie,
- L. Merlyn-Rees,
- V. Montgomery of Alamein,
- L. Peston (Chairman),
- E. Strathmore and Kinghorne.
§ Advisory Panel on Works of Art
- L. Armstrong of IlMinster,
- B. Birk,
- L. Cavendish of Furness,
- L. Charteris of Amisfield,
- V. De L'Isle,
- E. Gowrie (Chairman),
- L. Lucas,
- L. Morris of Castle Morris,
- Ly. Saltoun of Abernethy.
§ 2. Black Rod's Garden Entrance
§ The Committee has approved modifications, sought by Westminster City Council but costing no more than the original scheme, to the Black Rod's Garden Entrance project which will make Black Rod's Garden the main southern entrance to the Palace of Westminster after the summer recess 1995. Westminster City Council's arboriculturalist has made recommendations, which the Administration and Works Sub-Committee will be considering, as to which trees should be planted in Black Rod's Garden when the works there have been completed.
§ 3. New Pelican Crossing
§ The Committee has been informed that Westminster City Council has approved the installation of a Pelican Crossing to facilitate access between 6–7 Old Palace Yard and the House of Lords.
§ The Committee has approved, consequential on installation of the Pelican Crossing, new arrangements to meet police concerns about lobby queues and traffic circulation and a new lay-out for the main House of Lords car park which will increase the number of parking spaces by three.
§ 4. Car parking
§ The Committee has agreed that greater use of the Abingdon Street car park by peers should be encouraged; and has authorised the acquisition of fourteen extra spaces there for a 3 months' trial period, during which parking in the main House of Lords car park and in the Abingdon Street car park will be monitored to assess demand.
§ The Committee has authorised Black Rod, consequent on the changes which will follow the installation of the Pelican Crossing between the House and 6–7 Old Palace Yard, to circulate a notice to peers, setting out the arrangements for car parking in the House of Lords.
§ 5. 6–7 Old Palace Yard
§ The Committee has been informed that work on 6–7 Old Palace Yard has been completed within cost and that it will be ready for occupation in early January 1995.
§ 6. Lords' Reimbursement Allowances
§ The Committee has been informed of changes to the rate of car mileage, subsistence and secretarial allowances which were approved by resolutions of the House on 20 July 1994. The Committee has approved the conditions whereby a member of the House of Lords who is away from his main place of residence in the United Kingdom when Parliament is recalled during a recess may be reimbursed the extra costs incurred in travelling to attend the House.
§ 7. History of Parliament Trust
§ The Committee has been informed that in accordance with the recommendations of the Ibbs Report it is proposed that funding of the History of Parliament Trust should be transferred from the Treasury to Parliament. The Committee has agreed, to the extent that the House of Lords may in future be included in the works of the History of Parliament Trust, to consider contributing towards the costs.
§ 8. Staff of the House
§ The Committee has been informed of the following appointments—
- —an additional Clerk in the Committee Office for one year in the first instance;
- —an additional secretary in the Law Lords' Office;
- —two additional attendants for 6–7 Old Palace Yard;
- —replacement of a part-time secretary by a full-time temporary secretary in Black Rod's office;
- —the extension for one year of a temporary part-time typist in the Record Office.
§ The Committee has also been informed of the following—
- —that Mr. Derek Rippengal and Sir James Nursaw have agreed to continue to serve part-time, sharing the work of Counsel of the Chairman of Committees for a further year, ending 30 November 1995;
- —that Mr. R.H. Walters has been promoted in post as Establishment Officer to Grade 4, with effect from 1 August 1994;
- —that Mr. T.V. Mohan, Committee Office, has been promoted to Chief Clerk (Grade 5) with effect from 9 July 1994;
- —that Mr. E.C. Ollard, Public Bill Office, has been promoted to Chief Clerk (Grade 5) with effect from 4 August 1994
- —that Miss L.J. Mouland has been appointed a Clerk with effect from 10 October 1994;
- —that Major Arthur Charlesworth has been appointed Staff Superintendent with effect from January 1995, in succession to Major Peter Horsfall;
- —that Mr. M. Skelton has been appointed to succeed Mr. J. Emmerson as Principal Doorkeeper, with effect from January 1995.
§ 9. Retirement of Head of Security
§ The committee has been informed that the Head of Security, Chief Superintendent A.E.F. Longhurst, will retire in February 1995. The Committee has expressed its thanks to him for his professional and dedicated service to the House during his tenure of office.
§ The Committee has been informed of the appointment of Superintendent C.M. Harris as the new Head of Security.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.