§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsbergasked the Lord President of the Council what was the maximum number of Members at any one time who sat on Standing Committees in 1971–72 Session, and what was the corresponding figure on 1st March 1976.
§ Mr. Edward ShortOn 29th February 1972 208 Members, including Chairmen, were summoned to attend Standing Committees. 132 of them, again including Chairmen, were summoned to attend second meetings of Standing Committees on that day, making a total of 340, the highest for Session 1971–72.
On 24th February 1976 158 Members, including Chairmen, were summoned to attend. Thirty-two of them, again including the Chairman, were summoned to attend a second meeting of a Standing Committee on that day, making a total of 190, the highest for this Session up to 1st March.
Meetings of the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, which all Members for English constituencies can attend, have been excluded.