HL Deb 18 January 1996 vol 568 cc704-5
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)

My Lords, I beg to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. I should point out that the membership proposed differs in one respect from the membership agreed by the Committee of Selection last Thursday. It had nominated the noble Lord, Lord Glenarthur—and we are grateful to him for being willing to serve—but, unfortunately, the likely dates proved impossible for him. The noble Lord, Lord Bruntisfield, has kindly agreed to take his place.

Moved, That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection and on behalf of the Committee of Selection, the following Lords be named of the Scottish Select Committee on the Bill:

  • L. Bruntisfield (in place of L. Glenarthur),
  • E. Buchan,
  • L. Carmichael of Kelvingrove,
  • L. Ewing of Kirkford,
  • E. Kinnoull,
  • L. Mackie of Benshie,
  • L. Pearson of Rannoch,
  • Ly. Saltoun of Abernethy,
  • L. Wilson of Tillyorn (Chairman);
That the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee shall be printed and, if the Committee thinks fit, delivered out;

That the Committee have power to adjourn from place to place;

That the Committee do meet on Wednesday, 31st January at four o'clock in Committee Room 3.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

Lord Monkswell

My Lords, bearing in mind that it is generally understood that the Select Committee will be meeting in Scotland and taking evidence there, can the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees give the House some indication of, first, where the Committee is likely to meet in Scotland; secondly, the likely dates of those meetings; and, thirdly, whether the staff of this House who will be required to service the Select Committee have been consulted and satisfactory arrangements made for their travelling and accommodation, and any extra payments for dislocation agreed?

The Chairman of Committees

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Monkswell, for having informed me this afternoon before we sat that he was proposing to raise these matters. As regards the meetings of the Committee, after the first one, which it is proposed in the Motion before the House shall take place on 31st January in the Palace of Westminster, it is hoped—although these details have to be finalised by the Committee when it meets, should your Lordships agree to this Motion this afternoon—that it will meet in Edinburgh in the Council Chamber there. It is also hoped that those meetings will take place between 5th and 7th February.

As regards the third question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Monkswell, yes, indeed, consultations have taken place. There is a Clerk to the Committee, Mr. Edward Wells, already in place awaiting your Lordships' decision this afternoon. Rather than trouble your Lordships with administrative detail now, perhaps it would be appropriate for me to say that it will be open to the noble Lord to consult the Clerk for any further details. I hope that that meets with the noble Lord's acceptance.

On Question, Motion agreed to.