Eric Forth

Eric Forth has quizzed the government on the "mysterious shrinking" of the September sitting of the House of Commons.

The shadow leader questioned whether the government was seeking to avoid detailed scrutiny by shortening the amount of time MPs spend in Westminster between the end of their summer recess and the start of the conference season break.

He was speaking after Commons leader Peter Hain announced that MPs would sit during that period next year from September 7 to September 16.

Forth said that when the September sitting had first been introduced, the government had planned for the House to sit for three weeks.

"And then it was rather mysteriously reduced to only two weeks, I suspect because the government suddenly realised that it might be held to account too much with the House being back," he said.

"Now I notice. that he has shortened it yet again."

The Commons is to sit for three days in the first week and four days the following week.

"So the September sitting, during which this House was going to have an opportunity vigorously to hold the government to account, has shrunk by my calculation to seven sitting days," lamented Forth.

"Is this accidental or is it deliberate? What is the government afraid of? Why doesn't the leader want us back for lots of time in September to do our business? And why is he denying us this opportunity? We need to know."

Defending the dates, Hain questioned whether Forth would really want the House to be sitting during Conservative conference week.

"I'm sure he would far rather be here than he would at the Tory party conference," the Commons leader joked.

Hain said that "a lot of very important business" had been done during September.

"We did a lot of very good work in September and I am sure we will do a lot of very good work in the days we have allocated in the coming September."

The Commons leader also said he had "erred on the side of caution" and may be able to offer MPs additional days away from the Commons

Commons recess dates

• Christmas recess: Rise on Thursday December 18, 2003 and return on Monday January 5, 2004.

• Constituency recess: Rise on Thursday February 12 and return on Monday February 23.

• Easter recess: Rise on Thursday April 8 and return on Monday April 19.

• Whitsun recess: Rise on Thursday May 27 and return on Monday June 7.

• Summer recess: Rise on Thursday July 22 and return on Tuesday September 7.

• Conference recess: Rise on Thursday September 16 and return on Monday October 11.