A leading Tory councillor came under fire today for submitting an all-time record number of questions for a single meeting.

Councillor Anne Hawksworth (pictured, Con, Ilkley) has submitted 14 questions about the Queen's speech to next Tuesday's meeting of Britain's fourth biggest metropolitan authority.

She will ask Tory council leader Margaret Eaton about her views on issues including the children's, management, higher education, child trust fund, draft housing, civil contingencies and fire and rescue bills.

Coun Eaton will also be asked to comment on the introduction of a new stamp duty, a draft bill on national identity cards and the gambling, planning and compulsory purchasing, and draft school transport bills. A 15th question asks the leader if she believes the current Government shows scant regard for the welfare of children.

She is setting an all-time record of 15 questions by one member, although no limit has been set by the Council.

Question time lasts for only 15 minutes however, and other members fear her action will scupper their chances of getting much more information from the leader. They will all receive written replies when they arrive at the meeting but have the right to ask supplementary questions on top of them during the session.

Today, Councillor Dave Green (Lab, Odsal) said: "I believe that this is turning the Council meeting into a circus. It is a disgrace and shows contempt for the Council."

But Councillor Hawksworth said: "I have a right to put questions and they are all relevant because they affect local government and have financial implications."