§ 46. Mr. Walkdenasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the present difficulty of maintaining good attendances during the late night hours by reason of curtailed train and road transport services and the danger of street accidents, he will, now that all Members of the Government and the officers of their respective Departments have the whole of Monday and Friday in each week free for Departmental duties, propose an amendment of the Standing Orders to provide for earlier commencing and closing hours for Parliamentary business on the three days on which the House sits?
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 12th December last in reply to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Argyll (Mr. Macquisten).
§ Mr. WalkdenCould not the Government consider starting at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and closing at 10 p.m.?
§ The Prime MinisterAll these things have been considered but it has not been found possible to make a change.
§ Mr. R. C. MorrisonIs the Prime Minister aware that if 10 o'clock was substituted for 11 o'clock as the normal hour of Adjournment it would be a great convenience to hon. Members who have distances to travel?
§ Mr. ThurtleIs the Prime Minister aware that even a Conservative Prime Minister ought sometimes to be ready for a change?