HC Deb 29 October 1984 vol 65 cc999-1000
39. Sir John Biggs-Davison

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will give fresh consideration to the timing of parliamentary recesses.

40. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will initiate an inquiry on the question of the organisation of the calendar for the parliamentary year, with the main objective of changing and reducing the length of the summer recess.

Mr. Biffen

This is already within the terms of reference of the Select Committee on Procedure, and I would not propose to initiate any separate inquiry. As regards the detailed arrangements for recesses, I shall continue to do what I can to meet the general wishes of the House.

Sir John Biggs-Davison

Would it not be conformable with our traditions, of which my right hon. Friend is the custodian, if one of our recesses were based on Whitsun, as formerly, as two other recesses are based on Christmas and Easter?

Mr. Biffen

The choice is between a recess based on the spring bank holiday or the ecclesiastical Whitsun. I have some sympathy with my hon. Friend's point, but I am not sure to what extent has the general support of the House.

Mr. Hamilton

Does the Lord Privy Seal agree that it is increasingly absurd and indefensible for the House to go away for 12 weeks between July and October when we are suffering from what is a virtual dictatorship which becomes even more detestable and indefensible when we are way for 12 weeks?

Mr. Biffen

I rather like the 12 weeks away.

The 1977–78 Procedure Committee considered timing and concluded that there should be no fundamental change in the overall pattern of the Session.

Mr. Robert Atkins

Does my right hon. Friend agree that more hon. Members could spend longer in their constituencies than the 12 weeks that are presently allocated, since the summer recess is a particularly good time to work harder in the constituencies than we sometimes do here?

Mr. Biffen

If that is my hon. Friend's interpretation of his activities, who am I to disagree?

Mr. Bruce

Further to the question asked by the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton), will the Lord Privy Seal acknowledge that those of us who represent Scottish constituencies have to sit for a full month of the Scottish school holidays? For the last recess, Parliament rose only a week before the Scottish schools returned. Is it not reasonable that the House should take account of that?

Mr. Biffen

I agree with that point. Consistent with the findings of the 1977–78 Procedure Committee, any Leader of the House would always wish that we should rise as early in July as possible.