There has been a huge in increase in the constituency workload over the past few years adding to the pressure on Members of Parliament. Each Member has a different way of working which means in considering sitting hours there are no mainstream options which are necessarily right or wrong. The evidence suggests that the current balance of about 150 days over 34 weeks per year is broadly correct and should remain approximately as is. The Committee recommends that the House should be given the opportunity to vote on whether the House should continue to sit in September from 2013 onwards. There is widespread recognition that there is no scope for any diminution in the time available to the House for debate and scrutiny of legislation. The current pattern of 8 sitting hours on each sitting day between Monday and Thursday should therefore also continue, subject to future decisions concerning Friday sittings. Suggestions were heard that the House should sit normal working hours but that could be ill-suited to the transaction of other important Parliamentary business and needs of Members whose constituencies are some distance from Westminster. The House should be enabled to come to a decision in respect of each different day. The Committee is also currently considering whether consideration of private Members' bills should be moved from Fridays; and programming of legislation. The proposal of 'injury time' to compensate for time spent on oral statements was deemed undesirable but the Committee suggests that there should be a mechanism for backbenchers to question a Minister between 11.00 and 11.30 on Wednesdays

The inaugural volume in Cabinet's new 24-Hour Book series, I Am Sitting in a Room--written and designed in one day--explores the scenography and architecture of writing itself. Inspired in part by Georges Perec's short fragment in Species of Spaces on Antonello da Messina's painting of St. Jerome in his study, Dillon's text is both a personal reflection on the theatrics of the study, the library and the office, and a historical consideration of such writerly paraphernalia as Proust's bed, Nabokov's index cards and Philip Roth's moustache. Dillon, who arrived at Cabinet's office without any prepared text, also had to remain open to the contingencies of an unfamiliar writing environment, peculiar and perhaps slightly dodgy take-out food, a makeshift bed, and a capricious heating system, not to mention the obvious pressures of working under extreme time constraints. If that were not enough, this particular scene of writing was a public one, with curious onlookers dropping in during the process to watch the author (and his support staff) "at work." Inspired by literary precedents such as automatic writing, by the resourcefulness of the bricoleur making do with what is at hand and by the openness toward chance that all artistic production under severe constraint must necessarily incorporate, Cabinet's 24-Hour Book series will invite a number of distinguished authors and artists to be incarcerated in its gallery space to complete a project from start to finish within 24 hours.

As recent studies show that too much sitting can wreak havoc on your health, a physical therapist and best-selling author provide creative solutions for reducing the amount of time sitting and strategies for the workplace and school that will improve productivity and overall health.--

The book tells the story of how we never evolved to exercise - to do voluntary physical activity for the sake of health. Using his own research and experiences throughout the world, the author recounts how and why humans evolved to walk, run, dig, and do other necessary and rewarding physical activities while avoiding needless exertion. Drawing on insights from biology and anthropology, the author suggests how we can make exercise more enjoyable, rather that shaming and blaming people for avoiding it

This groundbreaking new medical work demonstrates how modern sedentary lifestyles contribute to poor health, obesity, and diabetes, and how health can be dramatically improved by continuous, low-intensity, movement that challenges the force of gravity. Citing her original NASA research on how weightlessness weakens astronauts' muscles, bones, and overall health, the author presents a simple and effective plan for maintaining good health throughout life by developing new lifestyle habits of frequent gravity-challenging movement. Written for everyone who spends most of their lives sitting in chairs, at desks, and in cars, this practical, easy-to-follow action plan outlines simple gravity-challenging activities such as standing up frequently, stretching, walking, and dancing that are more healthful and effective than conventional diet and exercise regimens.

No longer does the sedantry worker have to suffer from tingling or aching hands, neck or back pain, headaches or fatigue that can be so debilitating. The author details in this book the many variables that must be considered so that workers who sit for many hours a day can function effectively in a supportive and healthy work environment. Dr Donkin discusses all the possible physical ailments and conditions that can arise form poor working conditions and then offers ways to cure or prevent them.