§ 34. Mr. David HansonWhat progress she is making with regard to introducing additional morning sittings of the House. [45256]
The President of the Council and Leader of the House of CommonsThis matter also will be included among the issues in the Modernisation Committee's consideration of the parliamentary calendar.
§ Mr. HansonWill my right hon. Friend accept that there is a compelling case for morning sittings, certainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which would enable better consideration of private Members' Bills, an early return to their constituencies for hon. Members such as me with northern constituencies and perhaps more opportunities for Ministers to take questions on the Floor of the House?
Mrs. TaylorI do not want to pre-empt anything that might be in the report that goes to the Modernisation Committee. There are pros and cons of morning sittings and difficulties in terms of duplicating work in Committee and on the Floor of the House. The Modernisation Committee will want to consider all those matters. I hope that the memorandum that I shall publish will help hon. Members to concentrate their thoughts on practical solutions to those problems.