HC Deb 10 February 1986 vol 91 cc354-6W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form for each of the past five parliamentary Sessions, and for the current Session to date (a) the number of days that the House of Commons sat, (b) the total number of hours sat, (c) the average daily hours of sitting, (d) the longest time of any one sitting, (e) the number of parliamentary questions (i) oral and (ii) written and (f) the number of divisions.

Mr. Biffen

The information requested is as follows:

Subject or title House of Commons Paper No.
1957–58
Special: Inquiry not completed 262
1958–59
Report: Legislation, Private Members' bills, Private bills, Morning sittings, Debate, Adjournment debates, Questions, Supply, Committees, Miscellaneous 92
1961–62
Report: "Effect of S.O. No. 58(2) on Minorities" 236
1962–63
First: "The rule relating to reference in the House of Commons to matters considered as Sub Judice" 156
Second: "Expediting the Finance Bill" 190
1963–64
First: "The Form of the Defence Estimates" 248
Second: "The disclosure of matters contained in the reports of select committees" 295
Third: Allocation of time to bills; the method of signifying objection at the time of Unopposed Business 306
1964–65
First: Second reading committees; ten-minute rule bills 149
Subject or title House of Commons Paper No.
Second: "Question Time" 188
Third: Expediting the Finance Bill 276
Fourth: Examination of Estimates 303
Fifth: "Voting arrangements for Sick Members" 361
1965–66
Report: "Financial Procedure" 122
1966–67
First: "The Times of sitting of the House" 153
Second: "Standing Order No. 9; urgent and topical debates" 282
Third: "Methods of voting" 283
Fourth: "The Finance Bill 382
Fifth: "Questions" 410
Sixth: "Public Bill Procedure, etc." 539
1967–68
Report: "The Dates of the Session; the Financial Year" 356
1968–69
Special: Progress in public expenditure inquiry 51
First: "Scrutiny of Public Expenditure and Administration" 410
Second: "Form of the Defence Estimates" 411
1969–70
First Special: Announcement of taxation inquiry 123
Second Special: Inquiry not complete 302
First: "Ten-minute rule motions" 141
Second: "Question Time" 198
1970–71
First Special: Future inquiries 186
First: "Scrutiny of taxation" 276
Second: "The Process of Legislation" 538
1971–72
First Special: Announcement of inquiries 36
Second Special: Announcement of sub judice inquiry 253
Third Special: Need for inquiry into procedural consequences of entry into European Communities 448
Fourth Special: Scrutiny of Taxation 449
Fifth Special: Timing of the Budget Statement—inquiry 513
First: "Election of a Speaker" 111
Second: "Debates on Consolidated Fund bills; Ministerial Statements" 217
Third: "Rights of Members to attend meetings of Select Committees" 270
Fourth: "Matters sub judice" 298
Fifth: "Lords Amendments to the National Health Service (Family Planning) Amendment Bill 385
Sixth: "Time of opposed private business" 512
1972–73
First: "Timing of the Budget Statement" 152
Second: "Powers of Chairmen of Standing Committees; Public Petitions" 202
Third: "Debates on Defence" 257
Fourth: "Introduction of New Members after By-Elections" 336
Fifth: "Deferment of Private Members' Bills" 348
Sixth: "Members' Constituency Interests and Select Committee Inquiries 381
1974–75
Special: Seeking views of Members 103
First: "European Secondary Legislation" 294
Second: "Calling Amendments for Division at the end of debate" 372
Third: "Late sittings" 491
1975–76
First Special: Inviting evidence 574
Subject or title House of Commons Paper No.
Select Committee on Procedure (Sessional Committee)
1975–76
First: Order of Printing Questions 618
Second: "The Order of Precedence of Private Members' Bills" 712
Third: "Tabling of Questions and Access to the Table Office" 719
1976–77
First: "Calling of Amendments for Division at end of debate 141
Second: Points of order during divisions 152
Third: "Opposition motions in Supply" 200
Fourth: "Business of the House Motions" 247
Fifth: "Questions to the Prime Minister" 320
Sixth: "The operation of Standing Order No. 9" 422
Seventh: Members successful in Ballots 483
Eighth: Tabling of Amendments on the day of second reading 484
Select Committee on Procedure
1977–78
First: Bill procedure, committee system, hours of sitting etc. 588
1978–79
First Special: Priorities in implementing proposals of HC 588 (1977–78) 267
Select Committee on Procedure (Supply)
1980–81
First Report: Supply Procedure 118
Select Committee on Procedure (Finance)
1982–83
First Report: Financial Procedure 370
Select Committee on Procedure
1983–84
First: "Short Speeches" 570
1984–85
First: "Printing of Oral Questions to the Prime Minister" 298
Second: "Public Bill Procedure" 49
Third: "Questions lost when a sitting is broken" 396
Fourth: "Short Speeches" 623
1985–86
First: "The Operation of Standing Order No. 10" 42