§ 36. Julie MorganTo ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to make proposals to enable more hon. Members to participate in debates. [175295]
§ Mr. WoolasIn its response to the Procedure Committee's report on Procedures for Debates, Private Members' Bills and the Powers of the Speaker (published last week in the Committee's Second Special Report of this Session, HC 610), the Government has indicated that it supports the Committee's recommendation that, on an experimental basis, there should be an opportunity for an hour, or half-hour, of shorter Back Bench speeches before the wind-up speeches on occasions when the Speaker thinks it appropriate. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will table a motion that allows the House to decide, when it debates the Committee's report, whether this experiment should go forward.