WHILST prospective MPs here are currently busier outside, (electioneering) I hear Canadian MPs are getting noisier inside their House. During their 'Question Period' as it is called, MPs put questions to Ministers, just as is done here in our Commons.

Recently a Minister admitted he hadn't heard a question in the House. Actually it wasn't that he didn't hear the question, he admitted apologisingly, he just wasn't listening. That admission itself caused even more noise - not because of the Minister's inattention causing more 'laughter' noise, but because of his candour.

I'm told that many conversations are simultaneously going on round the floor of the House in Ottawa, clearly unrelated to anything anyone is saying for the public record; its no wonder its noisy, so I'm asked if its like this at Westminster. Judging by what we TV viewers see on the 'goggle', Mr Peter Luff may wish to throw some light on this! Just as noisy or not is the question!

In Ottawa some MPs are packing Blackberries - these are the wireless gadgets that allow people to send and receive E Mail through a discreet little box barely bigger than a pager. One Minister favours the gadget because it transforms House duty into 'productive' time!

Whether our MPs carry into the House vibration-type cellphones I don't know - as it may be difficult to nip out behind the curtains - to take the call. Isn't this all indicative of how the modern technical world can invade the top debating Chambers of Western Democracy!

J B CHADWICK, Shrubbery Road, Drakes Broughton.