My Lords, I beg to move the fourth Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to advise on the refreshment services provided for the House, within financial limits approved by the House Committee.

That, as proposed by the Committee of Selection, the following Members together with the Chairman of Committees be appointed to the Committee:

L Brougham and Vaux,

B Darcy de Knayth,

L Davies of Oldham,

L Geddes,

L Glenarthur,

B Gould of Potternewton,

L Lee of Trafford,

C Mar,

V Montgomery of Alamein,

B Pitkeathley,

B Rendell of Babergh,

B Thomas of Winchester.

That the committee have leave to report from time to time.—(The Chairman of Committees.)

My Lords, I am grateful to the Lord Chairman for taking this Motion separately. I apologise for the short notice that I have given to him and the Lord Speaker. I first invite the Lord Chairman to join in warmly thanking and congratulating the noble Baroness, Lady Fookes, on her chairmanship of the Refreshment Committee over the past several years and on the splendid way in which she carried out those duties.

Secondly, I ask the Lord Chairman whether the terms of the Motion, which include his membership of this committee, mean that he will probably chair it? If that is to be the case, I deeply sympathise with the noble Lord. He may recall that, while I was serving your Lordships as Chairman of Committees, it was one committee that I am happy to say I was not called on to chair. Furthermore, that was the one thing on which I allowed myself to congratulate myself during my six years as Chairman of Committees.

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Boston. I join him and, I am sure, the whole House, in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Fookes, for her excellent work in chairing the Refreshment Committee. The noble Lord, Lord Boston, it is quite right: the intention is that I chair the Refreshment Committee. I am already gearing myself up for the onslaught of advice that I will receive from noble Lords in that capacity and I am ready to listen.

On Question, Motion agreed to.