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It seems to me, Mr Speaker, that passing the motion that I have moved - that instead of a Tuesday night sitting we have a Tuesday morning sitting - would allow you the opportunity to extend an invitation, not just to the general public, but particularly to schools, and to have students from our schools who are studying government or studying the Assembly to be in here and join us at a range of different times. They already visit the Assembly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I think that that would give them yet another option, because often classes are timetabled in such a way that visits do not fit easily into a Wednesday or Thursday. So, that is a further option. I think we can actually take those suggestions and use them, even if this motion does go through and it is not exactly as Ms McRae would have seen it.
I would also like to comment on the constant debate we have on city council-style government. Realistically, the whole notion of city council-style government was part of an election gimmick. Let us leave it where it belongs, because we can all have different perceptions of what is meant by city council-style government. They were some catchy words used during the election campaign, and they were probably quite effective. Now let us get on with the business of making sure that some of the things that were attached to that idea can be delivered, that we can be as open as possible and that we can ensure that the issues are debated, and move on.
There is one final little matter that I would like to comment on. In her speech Ms Follett pointed out that I had some difficulty with question time. I love question time. I look forward to question time. I think question time is a fantastic time. In the six years that I have been sitting in the Assembly I recall missing one question time, perhaps two; but, by and large, I have been here for question times.
Mr Berry has moved a series of five amendments. I would ask you, under standing order 133, to divide those and to take amendment 3 separately. I think that amendment 3 is a very sensible amendment.
MR SPEAKER: Would you so move, Mr Moore.
MR MOORE: I move:
That amendment 3 be put separately from amendments 1, 2, 4 and 5.
I think that will allow us to deal with the two issues separately. Amendments 1, 2, 4 and 5 deal with the issue that has been debated most vehemently today - Tuesday night sittings. Amendment 3 deals with what I believe to be a very sensible suggestion which will allow the business of the Assembly to operate much more easily. Where somebody wishes to extend a speech, we do not have to put it to a motion; but somebody can say, “I seek leave to extend my speech”, and, provided that nobody disagrees, the business of the house can move on more quickly. So, with those few words, Mr Speaker, I believe that we should proceed.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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