Sessional Spill-over Period (Hansard, 8 July 1996)

§ 31. Dr. Goodson-Wickes
To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the merits of the spill-over period in the sessional cycle. [34715]

§ The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton)
A spill-over is on occasion necessary to complete the Session's business, and has been in recent years.

§ Dr. Goodson-Wickes
My right hon. Friend will appreciate the special reasons for the spill-over period to be examined in the lead-up to the general election, but does he agree that such an inefficient, outdated system would not be tolerated in any other walk of life? Will he give an undertaking to consider whether that system should be among those subjected to critical examination during the welcome reforms of our procedures?

§ Mr. Newton
Given the inevitable uncertainties relating to the time that it takes to complete some business, I think that some form of flexibility is needed in the arrangements for a parliamentary Session, but I certainly accept the desirability of having no spill-over 19 period if that can be achieved. I am glad to say that I expect a shorter spill-over this year than has been customary in recent years.

§ Mr. Winnick
In the spill-over period, would it be possible to give the British people what they want—an autumn general election?

§ Mr. Newton
The hon. Gentleman might like that, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made it clear that we have a mandate to continue to govern the country, and we intend to do so.

§ Mr. Wilkinson
I welcome my right hon. Friend's sympathetic response to the wise representations of my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes). From every point of view, would it not make more sense for the House to rise earlier—towards the beginning of July—so that hon. Members could spend more time with their families, and to reconvene at the beginning of October, with no spill-over period? That would be a much more logical and effective way of doing business.

§ Mr. Newton
I intended my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) to be sympathetic, but the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) would lead to another difficulty—unless he really wants the House to sit during the party conferences. That would involve some obvious problems. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I see that that idea is attractive to Labour Members. I would not want to go to their party conference either.