HC Deb 29 June 1992 vol 210 c580
44. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to institute a Question Time for London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

I have no specific proposals for a separate Question Time for London, but hon. Members representing London constituencies can, of course, ask questions of relevance to London to any of the Departments of State.

Mr. Greenway

I appreciate my right hon. Friend's reply, but will he accept that London has a special interest for the nation? London has 84 Members of Parliament. Northern Ireland has 17, Wales has 32 and Scotland has 72. The latter all have their own Question Times, so why should not there be a Question Time for London which takes account of the special problems and opportunities of London?

Mr. Newton

I do not think that it would be appropriate to move in quite the way that my hon. Friend suggests—unless there were a Minister for London, which I understand that my hon. Friend does not support, although I hope that he has not been misrepresented to me in that respect. My hon. Friend shows considerable and commendable ingenuity in putting questions about London in a variety of ways—most recently, as I heard for myself, during today's transport questions. I hope that that is of some comfort to him.

Mr. Simon Hughes

As an alternative to that, when the Leader of the House has completed his review of a programme for parliamentary business throughout the year, so that we shall have notice of what is to happen, could he formalise the occasional London debate so that, first, it is agreed that there will be an annual London debate and, secondly, we know roughly when it is to take place?

Mr. Newton

This is turning into something like business questions, but that is fair enough. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman would expect me to answer his question on the hoof, but I will certainly bear it in mind.