Call for earlier Commons sittings
By Philippa Silverman - 3rd February 2011
A Tory MP has urged the government to bring forward Thursday's sitting hours in the Commons to 9am.
During business questions, Ben Wallace (Con, Wyre and Preston North) said by starting at 9am, MPs that live beyond the Home Counties will be able to return to their constituency before midnight.
He added that the move would not cost the taxpayer any additional money.
Former Labour minister Kevin Brennan said that previous attempts to change sitting hours in 2002 had " pretty disastrous and pretty un-family friendly" for MPs who wanted to taken their children on the school run in London.
The Cardiff West MP added: "The question is not as simple as some make it out to be."
Commons leader Sir George Young admitted that sitting hours are "not a simple question".
He told MPs: "The procedure committee is about to conduct an inquiry, and I am sure that it would be pleased to hear his representations.
"I understand that it proposes to present the House with some options at the end of its report so that Members can decide if and how they want to change the sitting hours."
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