The list of those MPs present and voting during tomorrow's vote on the second reading of the Divorce Bill in Parliament morning will only include the number of those who vote either for or against, the House Business Committee decided this evening.

Those who abstain or who choose not to vote, even if present, will not be included in the list.

MPs agreed that tomorrow, those in favour of the Bill on second reading will be asked to stand and their names would be called in alphabetical order.

The same procedure wold then follow for those who are against.

The names of those who wish to abstain will then be called.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi explained that House rules spoke about MPs being  'present and voting'. Therefore, normally, if those in favour were fewer than those who voted against or abstained, a Bill would not be approved.

It had been agreed, however, that those who abstained tomorrow would not be counted in the final tally, even if they were present in the Chamber.