People are still surprised at the hours the House of Commons meets. When I was first elected I would quite often trip over snoring colleagues who had camped in cosy corners of the palace of westminster during all night sittings after I had been woken up by a clanging bell announcing a vote.

And when things ended getting home was horrid. From just after half past midnight to 5.15 in the morning there are only 2 trains to Slough, and the people on them are quite likely to be drunk.  It was after a man on the train exposed himself that I decided I would have to live in two places only 25 miles apart, not just Slough but near the House of  Commons too.

Drunks can be found before you reach the train.  Late votes are attended by MPs who have finished at their desks and adjourned to the bar, and the later the vote the worse for wear they can be.

I worked hard to reform these hours and for a few years our hours were predictable, with only Monday sittings when members have to arrive from far flung constituencies after the weekend starting late and carrying on till 10.30pm, and very late sessions for emergency legislation.

But progress has been eroded. This month the house has finished after 10.15pm on most of its sitting days. For a third we continued to within 10 minutes of midnight.  That is not a good time to finish work when you have an 8.30am meeting the following day as I did on three occasions.

And as we do not get notice of late sittings some members have to arrange emergency childcare at very short notice. 

Its not a sensible way to decide a nation's laws.