§ 46. Mr. LUNNasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have taken into consideration the additional and unnecessary cost of the many late sittings of this House, and the physical effect such long hours may have on the officials and staff; and will he consider favourably, during the Recess, the advisability of this House commencing its sittings at 10.30 a.m., and rising not later than 7 p.m., during the Autumn Session?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe hon. Member's suggestion has often been made, but the 225 objections to it are, I think, insuperable.
§ Mr. LUNNIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many Members of this House, especially those who sit on Committees in the morning, desire this particular change?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have said that it has often been suggested, but the objections to the change are insuperable. In the first place we could not have Committee work if the House was sitting at the time. In the second place nobody could be a member who was doing anything else. As an additional reason, it would certainly be impossible for the work of Ministers to be carried out.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWould not the result of this change be that we should begin at 10.30 a.m., and in most cases go on till 11 o'clock at night?
§ Mr. SPENCERWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of bringing in a Bill making it a Parliamentary offence for any Member to vote for the suspension of the rule, and then leave it to other Members to carry on?