British crooks in office are more interesting than the home grown version

[DanaC]

They were both issues considered by the committees dealing with the issue of participation, as problematic. Without the late sittings, it is now actually possible, most of the time, for an MP to travel back to their constituency the same night, after the voting is over. It didn't used to be practical. It basically opens up more possibilities in terms of commuting. Also, less necessary to have a London home so close by, can now have something a train journey away (trains wouldn't be running after voting finished; therefore many MPs slept in their office on late sitting nights.).

The difference between having a second home and having access to public owned properties, is that if they were set aside properties for Mps there wuold need to be a range of different kinds, or it wouldn't be possible for MPs to work from London and have their family (children) living with them there and enrolled in London schools. This is something quite a few of the women MPs in particular have opted to do. They then travel back and do constituency work at the weekend and during summer hols.