Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the President of the Council on how many occasions since the House adopted the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on the Sittings of the House business was concluded by 7 pm on Thursdays. [43286]
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorThe House has risen before 7 pm on Thursdays on three occasions since January 1995 and on a further 15 occasions the business under consideration at that time was the half-hour adjournment. My hon. Friend will be aware that the original Sittings of the House Report in 1991–92, known as the Jopling report, recommended that, on the Thursdays immediately preceding non-sitting Fridays, the House should complete its main business by 7.00 pm and rise after the adjournment at 7.30 pm. The Committee also said that 7.00 pm on the other Thursdays should be the normal time for completion of main business. On the 26 Thursdays before non-sitting Fridays since January 1995, the House rose before 8 pm on 11 occasions and before 9 pm on eight other evenings. On the 83 Thursdays preceding sitting Fridays since then, the House rose between 10 and 10.30 pm on 44 occasions, later than that on eight occasions and adjourned before 9 pm on 26 evenings.