Questions to the 'Dome Secretary' doubled

MPs are to be given double the amount of time they have at present to press Peter Mandelson, the Minister Without Portfolio, at Commons question time.

Bowing to demands for greater scrutiny of the Millennium Dome project, for which Mr Mandelson has responsibility, Leader of the House Ann Taylor said the time for questions to the minister would increase from five to 10 minutes.

The move comes after commentators noted that Mr Mandelson - dubbed "Dome Secretary" and "the second most influential man in the Government" - had spent just 11 minutes answering MPs' questions since the General Election in May.

In November, Shadow Commons Leader Gillian Shephard called for his appearances at the despatch box to be increased after Labour MP Ken Livingstone noted Mr Mandelson seemed to be running the country.

The decision to increase the time for questions to Mr Mandelson on the Millennium Dome had been taken following discussions with the Opposition, said Mrs Taylor.

Mrs Shephard replied: "We were all extremely excited to hear about the new plans for questioning the Minister Without Portfolio."

To laughter, former Tory minister Nicholas Soames said: "We on this side of the House are touchingly grateful for the opportunity for an exhaustive 10-minute internal and external examination of the Minister for Without Portfolio's affairs."