§ 41. Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to report on the question of hours and working conditions in the House of Commons.
§ Mr. NewtonI intend to arrange a debate on the report on the Select Committee on Sittings of the House before the House rises for the summer recess.
§ Mr. SkinnerIf the Government got rid of moonlighting in this gentlemen's club—250 Tory Members in the last Parliament had more than 500 moonlighting jobs between them—we could start talking about changing our hours. Is not the real reason why Parliament does not start until 2.30 pm so that Tory Members can make money in the law courts and board rooms and then turn up later? If the Government want to improve facilities, would it not be a good idea to use the Robing Room as a nursery and change the Royal Gallery into a cafeteria for visitors? If the royal family keeps pushing the self-destruct button, we shall get it.
§ Mr. NewtonOnce again, the hon. Gentleman has enlivened our proceedings. I shall confine my comments, for the time being, to the more mundane business of looking at the recommendations of the Jopling report.
§ Mr. WilkinsonWill the European Community's working time directive apply to the working of the House?
§ Mr. NewtonAs there is no such thing as a working time directive at present—at least, not an agreed one—I am not in a position to judge.