Frequently Asked Questions: Business

What are the sitting (meeting) hours of the House of Commons?

Mondays 2.30-10.30pm

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11.30am-7.30pm

Thursdays 9.30am-5.30pm

Sitting Fridays 9.30am-3pm

• Commons Hansard: Sittings of the House
• Glossary: Sittings
• About Parliament: Daily Business

What are the sitting (meeting) hours for Westminster Hall debates?

Mondays 4.30pm-7.30pm

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9.30-11.30am and 2.30-5.30pm

Thursdays 1.30pm-4.30pm

The House of Commons agreed on 24 February 2015 to extend the final debate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Westminster Hall from half an hour to an hour, and that sittings in Westminster Hall will take place on Mondays if the Petitions Committee has agreed that one or more petitions or e-petitions should be considered on that day.

• Read Commons Hansard 24 February 2015: Sittings in Westminster Hall
• Read Commons Hansard 11 July 2012: Sittings of the House
• About Parliament: Westminster Hall debates

When has the House of Commons sat on a Friday during the 2017-19 session?

The House has sat on the following Fridays to consider Private Members' Bills:

• 20 October 2017
• 3 November 2017
• 1 December 2017
• 19 January 2018
• 2 February 2018
• 23 February 2018
• 16 March 2018
• 27 April 2018
• 11 May 2018
• 15 June 2018
• 6 July 2018
• 26 October 2018
• 23 November 2018

• 8 February 2019
• 15 March 2019
• 22 March 2019

• 29 March 2019

When did the House of Commons sit on a Friday during the 2016-17 session?

Private Members' business had precedence over government business on the following Fridays:

• 21 October 2016
• 28 October 2016
• 4 November 2016
• 18 November 2016
• 25 November 2016
• 2 December 2016
• 16 December 2016
• 13 January 2017
• 20 January 2017
• 27 January 2017
• 3 February 2017
• 24 February 2017
• 24 March 2017

When is the next recess?

Find current recess dates for the House of Commons 

• House of Commons recess dates

How many days did the House of Commons sit (meet) during the 2016-17 Session?

142 days in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Sittings

How long did the House of Commons sit in total during the 2016-17 Session?

1068 hours and 34 minutes in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Sittings

How long did the House of Commons sit each day on average during the 2016-17 Session?

7 hours and 32 minutes in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Sittings

How many Early Day Motions (EDMs) were there during the last session?

1205 in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Early Day Motions
• About Parliament: Early Day Motions

Which EDM holds the record for the largest number of signatures?

Malcolm Savidge's EDM on the need to avoid conflict between India and Pakistan gained 502 signatures (2001-02).

• Glossary: Early Day Motions
• EDM Database

How many divisions (votes) were there during the last session?

198 in the 2016-17 session.

• Glossary: Divisions
• About Parliament: Divisions

How much time do MPs have to vote when a division is called?

Eight minutes

• Glossary: Divisions
• About Parliament: Divisions

What is the cost of answering a parliamentary question?

Oral question costs £450 on average. Written question costs £164 on average

• Glossary: Oral questions
• Glossary: Written questions
• Costs of a Parliamentary question

When was the House of Commons first broadcast live?

First live radio broadcast on 3 April 1978 First live television broadcast on 21 November 1989.

How often has the House of Commons sat for over 24 hours continuously?

21 times since 1877

• House of Commons: Hours Sat & Late Sittings

Can the House of Commons sit (meet) on a Saturday?

Although it is possible, weekend sittings are very rare. The House has only sat on five Saturdays since 1939.

2 September 1939 - Outbreak of World War II

30 July 1949 - Summer adjournment debates – last sitting of the summer

3 November 1956 - Suez Crises

3 April 1982 - Falkland Islands invasion

19 October 2019 - An EU Withdrawal Agreement

How many Government Bills were successful in the last session?

24 in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Public Bills
• Publications and records: Sessional Returns

How many Private Members' Bills were successful in the last session?

8 in the 2016-17 session

• Glossary: Private Members Bills
• About Parliament: Private Members' Bills
• Publications and records: Sessional Returns

When was the ballot for Private Members' Bills?

The ballot for the 2017-19 session was held on Thursday 29 June 2017. The formal presentation of ballot Bills for the 2017-19 session  took place in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 July 2017.

• Result of the Private Members' Bill Ballot June 2017
• Glossary: Ballot Bills

Can MPs successful in the ballot claim any extra allowances?

Yes. The ten MPs placed highest in the ballot may claim up to £200 expenses in drafting their Bills.