Cook unveils plans for '21st-century Parliament'

Robin Cook, the Leader of the House, has announced plans to turn the Commons into "a Parliament of the 21st century", abolishing late-night sittings and shortening MPs' summer break.

Sweeping reforms to the way the Commons meets would allow MPs to start work at 11.30am instead of 2.30pm, and to finish earlier. Prime Minister's Questions would be moved forward from its 3pm slot and MPs would usually finish work at 6pm or 7pm.

A report by the Modernisation Select Committee, chaired by Mr Cook, recommends the changes to make Westminster "topical, effective and accessible to the public". Friday sittings should be abolished and debates made shorter, with a 10-minute time limit on speeches by backbench MPs. The three-month summer recess should be shortened so that MPs would leave Westminster earlier, in July, but return in September.