§ 38. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Lord President of the Council when the recommendations of the Select Committee on the sittings of the House will be implemented.
§ Mr. NewtonI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that I have just given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset (Mr. Bruce).
§ Mr. HughesThe House will understand the position of the right hon. Gentleman and of his opposite number, who has just taken up her job. However, will the Leader of the House remember the extremely strong views held on both sides of the House? The matter was without resolution for years and years before the Jopling Committee, let alone since. The Leader of the House indicated, without an undertaking, that at the beginning of the new Session—after the Queen's Speech—proposals would be introduced to reform the time of our sittings. Is that still his expected timetable—that something will be announced before the end of 1994?
§ Mr. NewtonThat is very much my hope. I can only confirm it as an expectation when I have had the opportunity for discussions with the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) in her new position. There have been further constructive discussions during the summer. I shall look for an opportunity—I think that I have an arrangement—to speak to the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend the Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on the subject.