Two key pieces of legislation were brought before the House of Commons this week and both involved very late night sittings for MPs.

Whether we should be debating issues of such importance as Pensions and Social Security and the Freedom of Inform-ation at gone midnight on successive days must be open to question, but that is what happened.

The government's position has been known for some time, as has been the fact that there would be a number of Labour backbenchers who found their Party's position unpalatable. there were a considerable number of defections to the Opposition lobby but of course nowhere near enough to bring down the Government.

Perhaps the most disappointing vote was that on the Old Age Pension. The Liberal Democrats tabled an amendment to increase the Old Age pension above the derisory 75p per week and restore the link to earnings.

This was defeated not only because the Government voted against it, but also because the Tories decided to abstain, a position I find both sad and rather curious. I can understand the Government voting for their own proposals, but how can the Tories be unsure if 75p per week is enough or not?

As regards the Freedom of information Act it was, once again, rather predictable, although the number of Labour rebels was higher than expected and included many who are not normally among the 'usual suspects'. Once again the Government forced through the legislation which is weak, ineffectual and bears no relation to the Bill suggested by Labour in Opposition. They have been got at by the Whitehall bureaucrats so that for almost every clause indicating a freeing up of regulation there is another which brings in a new raft of regulations. It really is almost a complete waste of time and will be exposed as soon as it is tested, particularly by the media.

Other than the Bills, Parliament was also presented with a new 'Green Paper' on Housing announced on Wedn-esday.

This does introduce some good new measures, but it does not indicate where the new money is coming from to build the much needed social housing.