§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Leader of the House what representations he has received about the September sitting of the House. [136500]
§ Mr. HainA number of Members have raised with me their view on September sittings—both for and against—by raising it in the Chamber, at business questions and questions to the Leader of the House, and in private discussion. I have had one letter from a hon. Member on the subject, in favour of the change. I have received representations from two outside organisations on the dates of the September sittings.
In my view, the September sitting was successful in conducting important business and in allowing the Prime Minister and other Members of the Cabinet to be questioned and challenged on key issues such as Iraq for which there might otherwise have been demands for a recall of the House.