Hoon reveals plan for 80-day break
News Article 19 May 2005
The new leader of the House has announced that MPs are due for an 11-and-a-half week summer 'holiday' this year.
Local Government Information Unit
Government Affairs Website
MPs seek improved scrutiny of Brussels
News Article 22 March 2005
A new parliamentary committee should be established to scrutinise the work of European commissioners, according to a Commons report.
Terror Bill sparks law-making reform
Press Review 17 March 2005
The government's anti-terrorism measures are set to become a model for all future laws.
MP quits over return to longer hours
Press Review 3 February 2005
Helen Jackson, Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside, has announced she will not be standing at the general election because of the return to longer sitting hours.
MPs compromise on Commons hours
Press Review 27 January 2005
MPs have voted to return to a 10pm finish on Tuesdays, but not Wednesdays, and to make Thursday's session start earlier.
MPs vote for late night Tuesdays
News Article 26 January 2005
Traditionalist MPs have dealt a blow to modernisers by voting to resume late night sittings on Tuesdays.
MPs hours vote on knife edge
Press Review 26 January 2005
The long-running battle over the "family friendly" reform of Commons hours comes to a head this afternoon when MPs vote to either keep or modify the new system.
Revise, revert or revolt?
Publication Article 21 January 2005
Hours of need
Publication Article 14 January 2005
MPs set for heated debate on sitting hours
News Article 11 January 2005
The Commons modernisation committee has called for minor changes to parliamentary sitting hours.
New Commons hours to stay
Press Review 8 December 2004
The Commons modernisation committee is expected to resist demands of MPs who want the House to bring back the old timetable that involved regular voting at 10pm.
MPs electronically linked to ministers
News Article 24 November 2004
The leader of the Commons has unveiled a "ground-breaking" system allowing electronic communication between the government and MPs.
MPs' sitting hours under fire
Press Review 11 November 2004
A deputy speaker of the House of Commons has claimed that changes in the sitting hours has meant legislation is going through parliament without being properly debated.
'Strangers' vanishes from Commons parlance
Press Review 27 October 2004
Members of the public visiting the Houses of Parliament will no longer be referred to as "strangers", after a vote by MPs yesterday.
