§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Lord President of the Council, what plans there are to reform the early-day motion procedure.
§ Mr. NewtonI have no plans to do so. The hon. Member may, however, wish to raise the matter with the Procedure Committee.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Lord President of the Council, what is the percentage of early-day motions initiated by Opposition Members during the present parliamentary session.
§ Mr. NewtonHon. Members other than Conservative party members tabled 88.6 per cent. of the early-day motions tabled in the current Session up to and including Wednesday 6 July.
Number Labour 1,102 Conservative 166 Liberal Democrats 125 Plaid Cymru 34 Scottish National Party 18 Others 15 Total 1,460 This answer is based on motions only, not amendments, and is based on the records in POLIS.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Lord President of the Council what is the current average cost of an early-day motion.
§ Mr. NewtonThe total costs associated with the tabling of the 1,769 early-day motions in 1993 was £2,290,000 giving an average of £1,295 each.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Lord President of the Council, what is the current average number of hon. Members who append their signature to early-day motions.
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§ Mr. NewtonThe average number of signatures appended to early-day motions and amendments to them in the current Session up to and including Wednesday 6 July was 41.6