§ Mr. Irvingasked the Lord Privy Seal on how many occasions the House of Commons sat after 10.30 pm in each of the last two Sessions of Parliament; and what proportion these figures represent of the total number of sitting days.
§ Mr. BiffenIn 1981–82 the House sat after 10.30 pm on 115 occasions, and in 1982–83 on 71 occasions. These figures represent 66 and 62 per cent. respectively of the total number of sitting days.