Submission from Sir Patrick Cormack FSA,
MP
I was very glad to see the letter which you
have circulated to colleagues about the sitting hours.
I enclose a copy of a letter which I have sent
to The Times, following Peter Riddell's article earlier
this week (not printed). I hope it will be published.
My own view is that the most sensible compromise
solution would be to allow the House an early vote on restoring
Tuesdays and to continue with the experiment on Wednesdays and
Thursdays until the end of this Parliament, even if the Tuesday
motion were carried.
I think that would, be the correct, and most
conciliatory way, of dealing with the matter although I personally
hope that the new Parliament would wish to revert to the old hours
on Wednesdays as well.
I would also like to see a greater use of Fridays
and the reintroduction of the old system of ballots for Private
Members' Motions. One of the most significant casualties of our
recent changes, and the setting up of Westminster Hall, has been
that there has been no opportunity now for a Private Member to
have a vote on any matter that has been properly debated—I
don't really count Ten Minute Rule Bills as they are so often
no more than a publicity exercise.
January 2004
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