Commons Knowledge
General Information regarding the House of Commons that you may find useful.
Glossary
Adjournment Debate A half-hour debate at the end of each day’s sitting, introduced by an individual backbench MP and responded to by a Government Minister. Often an opportunity to raise a constituency issue.
Questions to Ministers The first hour each day except Friday is devoted to Oral Questions to Ministers. Each Government Department has a slot once a month.
Second Reading The first debate on a Bill, at which the house is asked to give approval to the principles of the Bill. Detailed consideration in Committee follows. No changes can be made to the text of the Bill at this stage.
Standing Committee Usually, Committees of between 16 and 50 MPs which examine the detail of Bills which have had a second Reading. Other Standing Committees include Grand Committees, which usually debate an issue, Committees on Delegated Legislation, which debate secondary legislation, and European Standing Committees, which examine EU documents.
Third Reading The final debate on a Bill as amended in Committee and at Report stage, before the Bill is sent to the Lords for consideration(or, in the case of a Lords Bill, for Royal Assent).
Backbench MP A Backbench MP is a Member of Parliament who holds no official position in government or in his or her party. Backbenchers sit on the back benches in the Chamber.
Report Stage The House considers any amendments (changes to the Bill) made by a standing committee. Further amendments can be made to the Bill at this stage.
Select Committee One of 40 or so cross-party Committees of backbench MPs appointed to consider particular subjects. The “Departmental Select Committees” investigate the expenditure, administration and policy of each Government Department. The membership is stable across the term of a Parliament.
Ten Minute Rule Bill An opportunity for a backbench MP to “seek leave” to introduce a Bill in a 10-minute speech. An opponent may speak against, also for 10 minutes, after which there can be a vote.
Westminster Hall Debate The “parallel Chamber” which sits three days a week, mostly debating subjects raised by backbenchers, and Select Committee Reports. “Cross-cutting” sessions of Oral Questions, on topics which affect several Government Departments, are also held.
Visiting the Houses of Parliament: during session
It is possible to attend the public gallery of the Lords and Commons chambers to view the proceedings. Anyone can come to St Stephen’s entrance to the Palace of Westminster and join the queue for the public gallery.
Tours of the Palace, the Line of Route, can also be arranged. Members of my constituency can arrange a tour or a visit to the Stanger's Gallery through me. If you are unsure of your local Member of Parliament’s details please contact the House of Commons Information Office or use the constituency locata service at http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/
Applications should be made as far in advance as possible. The address for contacting MPs is: House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA
At present, tours are only available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday mornings and on Fridays – all day if the Commons are not sitting, late afternoon if they are. There will be no access to the commons chamber after 09:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
Broadcasting of proceedings
Proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber and Westminster Hall can be viewed live via a webcast. All committees are also webcast, although in some cases this is in audio only not live. Details can be found at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/
