MPs are to abandon three late-night sittings a week in a shake-up of the Commons timetable, it is reported.

The move would mean the end for the traditional 10pm vote, with a finish three hours earlier from Tuesday to Thursday.

The change will be recommended by the Commons modernisation committee in a report early next month, says the Times newspaper.

It is hoped the new schedule will be more family-friendly and better suited to television coverage.

Late votes began in the 18th century

The earlier voting times will be better able to meet newspaper deadlines and news broadcasts.

Liberal Democrat member of the modernisation committee Paul Tyler said: "If Parliament is to capture the attention of the public again, we have got to make sure that our proceedings fit within the media timetable."

'Radical plans'

Mr Tyler said ministers should go to Parliament before giving interviews and news conferences.

"Robin Cook deserves great credit for steering through such a radical set of proposals with all-party support," added the MP.

Some traditionalists may complain it will disrupt morning meetings of select committees and tours of the Commons for constituents.

Parliament's current hours also allow some MPs to pursue other careers on top of their political roles.

Preventing such activities could lead to politicians with less experience of life outside the Westminster village, argue critics of such changes.

September sittings

The Commons already sits from 1130 to 1900 on Thursdays as part of an experiment which began in 1999.

There will still be a late start on Mondays - 1430 to 2200 - when MPs travel to Westminster from their constituencies.

The proposals also include September sittings and changes to visitor tours.

MPs will debate the plans in the autumn.

It has already been suggested that prime minister's questions will move to a pre-lunch slot on Wednesday so it can catch the lunchtime news bulletins.