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Tributes: Staff

My Lords, I rise to add my words to these tributes. But before that, I return to the theme that has been with us for the year, and perhaps I may give another plug for the Lord Speaker’s Robing Room address of 9 December, and her stark sentence of four words. She said: "Parliamentarians are deeply demoralised". We know, from our debates in recent days on our Code of Conduct and expenses, how that has deeply got to us. We know, when we meet other people, as we will do over Christmas at parties and pleasant events, that some friendly and some perhaps not-so-friendly comments will be made as quips, as we go about what we do at Christmas time. Perhaps we have broad enough shoulders to cope with those comments but they also get to the staff here, who share in some of that odium. They are asked, "Do you really work for those people?", and they are entitled to be demoralised. However, they have persevered and kept going and we should all be grateful that, if they have attracted some of that odium, they have not shown any demoralisation. My specific task is to thank two members of staff. One is Shirley Hutson, who retires later this week as Head Housekeeper in the Department of Facilities. It is a post that she has held since 2000, having joined the Lords as a housemaid and cleaner in Black Rod’s Department in 1990. Her personal commitment to the House and her high standard of professionalism have been noted over the years, and in her current role her firm but fair management style has been just what has been needed to secure the highest standards from her team. These qualities were reflected in Shirley’s appointment as an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2006, which colleagues across the department both recognised and appreciated. We wish her well in retirement. I also refer to Peter Clark, a Senior Attendant in the Department of Facilities, who joined in June 1997 and retired in April this year. He joined as an attendant after a long career in the Metropolitan Police, including 11 years with the Palace police. For a lot of his time here, he was based at 1 Abbey Gardens, but he is currently a tour guide, so he has not left the building. He is a great cricket fan, a keen golfer and a very sociable colleague. We wish him well both in retirement and in his new work here. It just remains for me to wish all members of staff and your Lordships a splendid and happy Christmas.