---

Business of the House

The decision to renege on September sittings confirms many hon. Members' suspicion that fitting the security screen was just an excuse. Does my right hon. Friend recall that the decision to hold sittings in September—which my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) rightly says was agreed by the House—was originally described by the late Robin Cook as a deal, in exchange for which we had family-friendly sittings to coincide with the school half terms? He may have detected some dissatisfaction in the House with September sittings, but a wholly different perception prevails among people outside. They think that we ought to hold the Government to account during September, and I cannot see why we should not. May I urge my right hon. Friend to allow the House to debate the matter, so that hon. Members can hear the arguments for and against?