HC Deb 22 February 1994 vol 238 c163W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Lord President of the Council what is the average number of signatures added to early-day motions per week; and what is the total annual cost to public funds of early-day motions.

Mr. Newton

The average number of hon. Members' signatures added to early-day motions in each sitting week in calendar year 1993 was 3,091; the total cost to public funds of printing and publishing early-day motions during 1993 is estimated by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to have been £2,290,000.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report, column 78, how many early-day motions were tabled in 1992–93; and how many early-day motions have been debated since 1979.

Mr. Newton

There were 2,574 early-day motions tabled in Session 1992–93.

There is no definitive list of motions debated in the House which first appeared on the Order Paper as early-day motions. The majority of such motions are prayers against statutory instruments. The number of motions to annul or revoke an instrument debated on the Floor of the House from 1979 to 1980 Session to date is 208. Other than prayers, it seems that there have not been more than four motions debated in the House since 1979 which began as early-day motions.