HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 cc16-7
25. Mr. Canavan

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has any plans to alter the periods of the year when Parliament sits.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Paymaster General and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Francis Pym)

I have at present no such proposals to make to the House.

Mr. Canavan

Why is it that the dates of the Summer Recess seem to be determined more by the dates of the grouse shooting season than by the dates of children's school holidays, which in Scotland are sometimes almost over by the time Parliament goes into recess? Would it offend the Tory blood sport brigade all that much if this year the 12 August deadline were supplanted by Prince Charlie's wedding date?

Mr. Pym

As the House knows, many factors have to be taken into account in deciding the dates of the recess. I have much sympathy with the hon. Gentleman and with all hon. Members whose children are on holidays while we are not in recess. As recently as 1978 a Select Committee considered this and related issues. It found that most Members preferred the present arrangements. Therefore, it recommended no fundamental change. When the House debated the Select Committee's report there was no indication of an opposite weight of opinion. That does not alter the fact that I have sympathy with hon. Members whose children are on holiday while the House is sitting. However, until the House as a whole decides to make a change the existing arrangements will continue more or less as before.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it seems to me and to many others that whatever Government are in power the prosperity of Britain grows in inverse proportion to the amount of time that we spend legislating in this place? In an attempt to help the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan), will my right hon. Friend ensure that in the next Session there is a considerable reduction in the number and weight of Government Bills, so that we may get away from this place a good deal earlier?

Mr. Pym

I hope that my hon. Friend will agree that our legislative programme has been somewhat lighter this Session than in the previous Session. We shall have to await what the Government decide for the next Session. I am well aware of my hon. Friend's request and the desire of the House to have less legislation.

Mr. John Silkin

I have every sympathy with the view of the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis) that the Government should legislate as little as possible. The proposal by my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) would not necessarily mean spending more time in the House; it would mean dividing the time in a more sensible manner.

Mr. Pym

The House can look at the matter again. However, when it was considered as recently as three years ago it became clear that the weight of opinion was to keep sittings more or less on the present pattern. I take a relaxed view about whether that is altered. The question is whether we should again so soon ask a Committee to consider the matter. I shall consider that possibility, but I have not received sufficient indication that opinion has changed to think that at the moment that would be an appropriate idea.

Mr. Silkin

Would not a sensible way to deal with the matter be to let the House decide again? After all, this is a new Parliament. There has been a big change, for good or evil, in the hon. Members who have taken their seats. That being so, I do not believe that we need another Select Committee, but it might not be a bad idea to let the House discuss the matter.

Mr. Pym

I shall consider that possibility.