called on MPs.

Government backbencher Trevor Moniz, who managed to squeeze his opinions into just four minutes during the Throne Speech debate, wants to limit the length of time given to MPs.

His comments yesterday, which he kept brief, come after House Speaker Ernest DeCouto admonished MPs when he called on them to set an example and present points in a nutshell.

The House of Assembly, which started at 10 a.m. on Friday, finally came to an end at 2.40 a.m. on Saturday.

Mr. Moniz suggested that Government and Shadow Ministers be given one hour and backbenchers be limited to 30 minutes each for debates such as the Throne Speech.

At other times, he argued, MPs should keep their comments as succinct as possible -- giving others time to speak and improving the level of debate.

"There is a case for shortening the length of speeches -- for a start more people could speak,'' he said. "If we restrict the length of speeches, it should raise the level of debate.'' He is to write to the Rules and Privileges Committee asking it to look at the issue to see if speeches can be limited.

"You get people wandering off on irrelevant material or you get people who who read a laundry list of facts and figures without having a point to it,'' said Mr. Moniz.

According to the Rules of the House of Assembly there is a clause which could be used to limit the amount of time given to one debate.

Section 14E of the House rules allows an MP to ask that the time for a particular debate be limited, although it does not limit each member.

It is unlikely it would be used for debates on new legislation, but could be used for motions where the subject is only up for discussion.

Mr. DeCouto said: "The initiative has to come from the floor of the House and I would imagine any member can do it, although it would be wise to have the support of the MP putting the motion forward.

"People could move that a certain amount of time is allocated. I really think that on something like a take note motion, where there does not have to be any action, this rule could be invoked.'' Last night John Barritt, the Information and Technology Minister, suggested that in some debates MPs could be limited to 20 or 30 minutes speaking time.

However he added: "In the past we have suggested to the Opposition that we look at imposing some limits to lengths of speeches, particularly when it comes to the Throne or Reply to the Budget speeches.

"But on each occasion, we have been rebuffed on the basis that the Opposition does not want their freedom of speech to be curtailed,'' said Mr. Barritt, who spoke for 47 minutes last Friday.

Who spoke -- and for how long Here is a list of speakers and the time for which they spoke over the two days of the Throne Speech debate.

On Friday, November 15, debate began at 10.55 a.m. with Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith who spoke until 11.52 a.m.

11.52 a.m. to 12.18 p.m. Premier David Saul.

12.18 to 2.39 p.m. Eugene Cox (PLP) (lunch was taken from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

when debate was adjourned.) 2.39 to 4.36 p.m. Quinton Edness (UBP).

4.36 to 5.45 p.m. Alex Scott (PLP).

5.45 to 7.04 p.m. Jerome Dill (UBP).

7.04 to 7.49 p.m. Nelson Bascome (PLP).

7.49 to 8.28 p.m. Maxwell Burgess (UBP). The House adjourned after he finished speaking.

Last Friday, debate began at 10.38 a.m. with David Allen (PLP) who spoke until 12.08 p.m.

12.08 to 3.07 p.m. Sir John Swan (UBP). (Lunch was taken from 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. when debate is adjourned.) 3.07 to 3.29 p.m. Reginald Burrows (PLP).

3.29 to 5.28 p.m. Grant Gibbons (UBP).

5.28 to 6.05 p.m. Stanley Morton (PLP).

6.05 to 7.27 p.m. Wayne Furbert (UBP).

7.27 to 7.43 p.m. Ottiwell Simmons (PLP).

7.43 to 8.12 p.m. Harry Soares (UBP).

8.12 to 8.45 p.m. Ewart Brown (PLP).

8.45 to 8.49 p.m. Trevor Moniz (UBP).

8.49 to 9.40 p.m. Dennis Lister (PLP).

9.40 to 10.27 p.m. John Barritt (UBP).

10.27 to 11.14 p.m. Renee Webb (PLP).

11.14 to 11.40 p.m. Tim Smith (UBP).

11.40 p.m. to 12.15 a.m. (Saturday, November 23) Walter Lister (PLP).

12.15 to 1.03 a.m. David Dodwell (UBP).

1.03 to 1.20 a.m. Paula Cox (PLP).

1.20 to 2.40 a.m. Leon (Jimmy) Williams (PLP).