HC Deb 09 March 1999 vol 327 cc194-5W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the President of the Council how much time in the last session of Parliament was devoted in the Chamber to(a) Scottish, (b) Welsh, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) European Union, (e) Commonwealth and other foreign and (f) other business. [75539]

Mrs. Beckett

Any figures given cannot be entirely objective, as it is not always clear in what category particular debates belong. Where this is unclear the figures have been included in the "other" category. Taking this into account, the figures are as follows:(a) 121 hours 50 minutes, (b) 96 hours 47 minutes, (c) 110 hours 25 minutes, (d) 124 hours 14 minutes, (e) 104 hours 16 minutes and (f) 1560 hours 4 minutes.

These figures do not take account of the occasions on which matters relating to territorial, European Union or foreign affairs were debated at the same times as matters relating to the United Kingdom as a whole. Questions relating to Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have all been included in category (c), even though some of them may in fact have related to category (d). All time taken on the Floor of the House last Session has been included in the above figures.