§ 36. Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet)What further plans she has to change the parliamentary calendar. [72132]
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)I have none currently, although I expect that the Modernisation Committee will want to review the success of the current experiment on Thursdays and of the recent short Adjournment.
§ Sir Sydney ChapmanI appreciate that the exact length of a parliamentary Session has to be flexible, and that it depends on the progress—or lack of progress—of Government Bills, but will the right hon. Lady give an undertaking to the House that, if we are to continue to proceed with half-term holidays or half-term constituency weeks, the dates of those will-as they could quite reasonably-be announced months, if not years, ahead? Will she consider that point, as I think that implementing it would be very helpful to right hon. and hon. Members on both sides of the House?
§ Mrs. BeckettI am always very conscious both of greater efficiency in handling the business of the House, so that we are able to give more notice of dates, and of greater convenience to hon. Members. We seek to give as much notice as we can. I am particularly mindful of the important Committee chaired by the hon. Gentleman and of all the work that it has to fit in. Although we endeavour to give as much notice as possible, it is not possible to give as much notice as we should like to give when—as happened on the most recent occasion—a decision is taken only a few weeks ahead to conduct an experiment.
§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)As we are all in modernising mood—[HON. MEMBERS: "Are we?"]—with the exception of a few Opposition Members, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether she is satisfied with the current arrangements for the summer recess? I realise, of course, that it is not a holiday: I do not know many times I, like my colleagues, have told constituents, "We're not really on holiday. I am conducting my surgery and other work." However, is it really necessary to have a three-month break? Can we not rearrange matters, including party conferences? Why cannot we—like other Parliaments in western Europe—at least come back in the middle of September?
§ Mrs. BeckettI understand that concern, which is often aired. All hon. Members have their own experience. Speaking for myself, I cannot say that I have ever had a three-month break in the summer—most years, I have been lucky to have three weeks. People occasionally reconsider arrangements for party conferences and other matters, but—as I am sure my hon. Friend is aware—many such arrangements are booked up many years in advance. It not a simple matter to change them.
§ Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chiselhurst)Given the President of the Council's role as representative of the House of Commons within government, will she give an absolute guarantee that, whatever changes are proposed for consideration of the House under the rather dubious rubric of modernisation, the one thing that will not happen is a reduction of the time available to the House to scrutinise and hold to account the Government?
§ Mrs. BeckettI cannot say that I have so far presided over a reduction in the sitting hours of the House. For most of the years during which I have been a Member, the House has sat for very long hours, but not always to the greatest efficiency. When changes have been made, they have been made at the will of the House, to promote greater efficiency.
§ Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire)If the right hon. Lady does plan any changes to the parliamentary calendar, will she observe the convention that was observed in earlier Parliaments, of making changes only by consent? Will the Government also not use their parliamentary majority to force through changes that may have impacts on the rights of the Opposition? Does she agree with hon. Members on both sides of the House that what is wanted by many hon. Members is not so much change as certainty? How can any hon. Member make long-standing personal engagements if they do not know the dates of the Easter, Whitsun or summer recess until a few days before they happen?
§ Mrs. BeckettAll I can say to the right hon. Gentleman is that there is infinitely more notice of all those matters now than there was—not only when I was first elected to the House but when Labour was in opposition and he and the Conservative party were the Government. When changes are proposed, I am always anxious to take along all hon. Members to the greatest degree possible. That is, and always will be, the Government's wish. The right hon. Gentleman will know that what sometimes appears to be consent suddenly evaporates.