§ Sir Dudley SmithTo ask the Lord President of the Council how many times to date the House of Commons has sat beyond midnight during the current parliamentary session; and what are the comparable figures for each parliamentary year from 1979 to date.
§ Mr. WakehamTuesday 4 July was the 135th sitting day of this Session, and up to and including that date, the House had sat beyond midnight 48 times. The figures for the same point in previous Sessions since 1979 are as follows:
Number 1979–80 49 1980–81 54 1981–82 42 1982–83 133 1983–84 46 1984–85 60 1985–86 57 1986–87 237 1987–88 57 1Short Session: 115 sitting days. 2Short Session: 109 sitting days.