§ 47. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Prime Minister if he is yet in the position to announce the decision of the Government on the recommendation of the Select Committee on the Hours of Sittings of the House that the House should sit and rise one hour earlier on Fridays?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis suggestion will receive consideration when the wider inquiry, to which I referred on Monday last in reply to questions by the hon. Members for Newcastle North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) and Hulme (Mr. McElwee) has been completed.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAs all the evidence was practically unanimous, could not the Prime Minister separate this point from the rest, and try it as an experiment at the beginning of the Autumn Session; and is he further aware of the great convenience it would be to the country Members of all parties?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat point is under consideration, but it is very difficult to separate the two. If we receive any sort of representative opinion from hon. Members, I see no difficulty at all in trying it as an experiment when we meet in the Autumn.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWould the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to go into this matter through the usual party channels to see whether the convenience of the House would not be served?
§ The PRIME MINISTERindicated assent.
Mr. MACLEANWill the Prime Minister find out from the hon. Member 2139 who has asked the question if he is as anxious for a reduction in the miners' hours of work?