HC Deb 20 June 1994 vol 245 c42W
48. Dr. Spink

To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress he has made in respect of reforming the sittings arrangements for the House.

Mr. Newton

I am currently engaged in constructive discussions with the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown). Our aim is to find ways of enabling the House to do its business in more sensible ways, at more sensible hours, without either unacceptably reducing the Government's capacity to carry their programme or unacceptably reducing the Opposition's flexibility in deploying and pressing their case. It is my hope that those discussions will enable us to map the way forward before the summer recess.