INFORMATION ON THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Authoritative publications on the procedure of the House of Commons include: ERSKINE MAY'S TREATISE ON THE LAW, PRIVILEGES, PROCEEDINGS AND USAGE OF PARLIAMENT, 21st ed, Butterworth's, 1989. (Usually referred to as ERSKINE MAY'S PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICE.)

MANUAL OF PROCEDURE IN THE PUBLIC BUSINESS. 14th ed ISBN (0108506223) HMSO 1987

PARLIAMENT, ISBN (0117016314) £6 HMSO 1991

THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, ISBN (0117015792) £4.95 HMSO 1994

GLOSSARY

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE (COMMONS) - Usually a half-hour debate introduced by a backbencher at the end of business for the day. The subjects raised are often local or personal issues

ALLOCATION OF TIME MOTION (GUILLOTINE) - A means by which time for one or more stages of a bill is restricted; and the question is put on outstanding business, notwithstanding the fact that Members may still wish to speak on that business

COMMENCEMENT ORDERS - Statutory Instruments by which HM Government brings into force part or the whole of an Act. These appear in the HMSO Daily List

CONSOLIDATED FUND BILL - A bill to authorise issue of sums to maintain Government Service. In the Commons, the second and third readings are taken without debate.

CONSOLIDATION BILL - A bill which seeks to draw together several previous enactments on a subject. A Joint Committee of both Houses reports on all such Bills, upon Statute Law Revision Bills, and those presented under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949. (In the list of Public Bills in this Bulletin the latter two categories are included as Consolidation Bills).

GENERAL SYNOD MEASURE - A measure passed by the General Synod of the Church of England under the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919. These measures, once considered by the Ecclesiastical Committee, and a report having been made by it are considered by both Houses, and if approved, sent for the Royal Assent. These are noted at the end of the Public Bill list.

OPPOSITION DAYS (COMMONS) - Twenty days are allotted in each session for proceedings on Opposition business, of which seventeen are at the disposal of the Leader of the Opposition, and three are at the disposal of the Leader of the second largest Opposition party

PRIVATE BILL - A bill promoted by a body or an individual to give powers additional to, or in conflict with, the general law, and to which a separate procedure applies

PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL - A public bill promoted by a Member or Peer who is not a member of HM Government

PRIVATE NOTICE QUESTION - A question adjudged of urgent importance on submission to The Speaker, answered at the end of oral questions - usually at 3.30 pm.

STANDING ORDER - An order made by the House (Commons or Lords) for the regulation of its proceedings, which lasts beyond the end of the Session in which it is made.

STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS - A parliamentary paper published by HMSO

SO (STANDING ORDER) NO 20 APPLICATION (COMMONS) - A means whereby a Member may attempt to initiate an emergency debate, by interrupting business to discuss a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration. Notice is given to The Speaker, who decides whether the matter is grave and urgent enough to put a motion to the House to give it precedence. If the House gives leave, the business is discussed, usually on the following day.

TEN MINUTE RULE BILL (COMMONS) - A colloquial term for Standing Order No 19, under which backbenchers have an opportunity on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to introduce a bill and speak in its favour for about 10 minutes. Time is also available for a short opposing speech

UNSTARRED QUESTION (LORDS) - A question which may give rise to debate, taken at the end of business for the day