Sessional Information Digest: 2000-2001
Section A1
Sittings of the House and Dates of Session
The House sat on every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and all but 3 Fridays during the following periods (all dates inclusive)
6 December - 21 December 2000
8 January - 15 February 2001
26 February - 10 April 2001
23 April - 3 May 2001
8 May - 11 May 2001
The total number of sitting days was 83. The House sat for 690 hours and 27 minutes, and the average length of the daily sitting (including Fridays) was 8 hours and 19 minutes.
The House did not sit on the following Fridays: 12th and 19th January 2001, 2nd March 2001.
Analysis of the time of the session
|
Type of Business |
Total time spent (hours:minutes) |
|
1 |
Addresses, other than Prayers (including debate on Queen's Speech) |
36.18 |
|
2 |
Government Bills |
|
| |
Second Reading debate (Bills committed to a Standing Committee) |
93.52 |
| |
Second Reading debate (Bills committed to a Committee of the Whole House) |
17.52 |
| |
Committee of the Whole House |
23.33 |
| |
Consideration (Report stage) |
56.24 |
| |
Third Reading |
16.08 |
| |
Lords Amendments |
3.24 |
| |
Allocation of Time Order (including Programme Motions) |
31.22 |
| |
Committal Motion |
- |
|
3 |
Private Members' Bills |
|
| |
Motions for the introduction of Ten Minute Rule Bills |
4.21 |
| |
Second Reading |
33.44 |
| |
Other stages |
4.56 |
|
4 |
Private Business |
7.39 |
|
5 |
Government motions |
|
| |
European Union Documents |
1.31 |
| |
Business Motions |
7.30 |
| |
General |
23.18 |
|
6 |
Opposition motions |
|
| |
Opposition Days (8 days) |
48.28 |
| |
Opposition Motions in Government Time |
- |
|
7 |
Adjournment |
|
| |
Government debates on motions for the Adjournment |
36.36 |
| |
Last day before Recesses |
6.00 |
| |
Emergency debates (SO No 24) |
- |
| |
Daily (at end of business) |
39.20 |
|
8 |
Estimates |
7.18 |
|
9 |
Money Resolutions |
2.41 |
|
10 |
Ways and Means Resolutions (including Budget Debate) |
25.01 |
|
11 |
Motions for Approval of Statutory Instruments (Affirmative) |
21.58 |
|
12 |
Motions to Annual or Revoke Statutory Instruments (Negative) |
5.24 |
|
13 |
Oral Questions |
64.14 |
| |
Private Notice Questions |
5.14 |
| |
Statements |
28.00 |
| |
Business statements |
15.00 |
| |
SO No 24 Applications* |
0.11 |
| |
Points of Order and Speaker's Rulings |
5.16 |
| |
Presentation of Public Petitions |
0.37 |
| |
Miscellaneous |
5.13 |
|
Daily Prayers |
6.55 |
|
Sessional Total |
690.27 |
| Note: | The time taken up by Divisions is included with the class of business upon which the divisions were called |
* Previously SO No 20 Applications
Westminster Hall
The total number of sitting hours in Westminster Hall was 185 hours and forty nine minutes.
Section A2
Parliamentary Questions
Statistics of Parliamentary Questions are available in two forms. The figures for each, which for various reasons (mainly owing to methods of counting and recording) are not exactly comparable, are as follows:
Questions appearing on the Order Paper calculated by the Journal Office
|
Appearing on the Order Paper for Oral Answer |
2,780 |
|
Put down for Written answer on a named day |
8,439 |
|
Put down for ordinary Written Answer |
7,978 |
| |
|
|
Total |
19,197 |
| Note: | Not more than about half of all questions put down for Oral Answer will receive such an answer - the rest are answered in writing |
Questions appearing in Hansard, and indexed in the Parliamentary On-line Indexing Service (POLIS)
|
Oral replies (including supplementaries) |
2,591 |
|
Written replies |
16,687 |
| |
|
|
Total |
19,278 |
The total number of private notice questions (excluding Business Questions) was 7.
Section A3
Opposition Days
|
Date |
Day No. |
Subject of Debate |
| |
|
|
|
18.1.01
|
1 |
a) Teacher supply
b) Police numbers |
| |
|
|
|
24.1.01 |
2 |
a) Manufacturing industry
b) Public health |
| |
|
|
|
1.2.01 |
3 |
a) The asylum system
b) The crisis in agriculture |
| |
|
|
|
5.2.01 |
4 |
a) Social exclusion, poverty and job losses in Wales (Plaid Cymru)
b) Personal care for the elderly (LD) |
| |
|
|
|
12.2.01 |
5 |
a) Prison conditions
b) "Shifting the Balance" - Liaison Committee's first
report of 1999/2000 (HC 300) |
| |
|
|
|
28.2.01 |
6 |
Foot and mouth disease |
| |
|
|
|
21.3.01 |
7 |
Foot and mouth disease |
| |
|
|
|
25.4.01 |
8 |
a) Rural Economy (LD)
b) Foreign and security policy (LD) |
| |
|
|
LD - Liberal Democrat Motions
Section A4
Use of Guillotine (Programme Motions)
The Guillotine, or Allocation of Time Motion (ATM), is used to timetable proceedings on a Bill. New Sessional Orders were introduced for Programme Motions in Session 2000-2001 (PM). In the 2000-2001 Session, Guillotine or Programme Motions were used 34 times on 22 Bills during the session. Factsheet No P10, available from the House of Commons Information Office, contains more information. The details are as follows:
|
Bill title and length |
Date of ATM/PROG |
Stages guillotined |
Progress before Motion |
Time Allowed under Motion |
|
Vehicles (Crime)
(45cl, 1sch) |
18.12.2000
(prog)
30.1.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 23.1.2001
RS - 1 Day
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Hunting
(6cl, 3sch)
- ditto -
|
20.12.2000
(prog)
27.2.2001
(prog) |
CWH, C
RS |
1R, 2R |
CWH - 1Day
SC proceedings to conclude by 8.2.2001
RS - 1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Homes
(34cl, 3sch)
- ditto -
|
8.1.2001
(prog)
7.2.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R
|
SC proceedings to conclude by 1.2.2001
1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Armed Forces
(41cl, 8sch)
- ditto -
- ditto - |
9.1.2001
(prog)
2.4.2001
(prog)
11.05.2001 |
Sel Com
LA |
1R, 2R |
Sel Com to report by 15.3.2001
LA - 1hr |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Health and Social Care
(66cl, 5sch)
- ditto -
- ditto -
|
10.1.2001
(prog)
14.2.2001
(prog)
10.5.2001
(prog) |
C
RS
LA |
1R, 2R
|
SC proceedings to conclude by 8.2.2001
1 Day
LA - 1 hr |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Children's Commissioner for Wales (8cl, 1sch)
- ditto - |
16.1.2001
(prog)
11.05.2001 |
C
LA |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 1.2.2001
LA - 1hr |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Tobacco Advertising and Promotion (20cl)
- ditto -
|
22.1.2001
(prog)
13.2.2001 |
C
RS |
1R, 2R
|
SC proceedings to conclude by 8.2.2001
1Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Social Security Contributions (Share Options) (6cl)
|
23.1.2001
(prog) |
C |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 1.2.2001 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Criminal Justice and Police (132cl, 8sch)
- ditto -
|
29.1.2001
(prog)
10.5.2001
(prog) |
C
LA
|
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 8.3.2001
1 hr
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification)
(2cl, 2sch)
|
14.2.2001
(prog) |
RS |
1R, 2R, C |
1 Day |
|
Criminal Defence Service (Advice and Assistance) [HL] (2cl) |
26.2.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 8.3
RS - 3.5hrs |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
International Development
(20cl, 6sch)
- ditto -
|
6.3.2001
(prog)
10.4.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 15.3
RS - 1 Day |
|
Regulatory Reform [HL]
(15cl) |
19.3.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 29.3
RS - 1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Special Educational Needs and Disability [HL] (43cl, 9sch)
|
20.3.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 5.4
RS - 1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Adoption and Children
(5cl)
|
26.3.2001
(prog) |
Sel Com |
1R, 2R |
Select Cmt to report by 12.6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Social Security Fraud [HL]
21cl, 1sch)
- ditto - |
27.3.2001
(prog)
11.05.2001 |
C
RS
LA |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 12.4
RS - 1 Day
LA - 1hr |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Private Security Industry
(26cl, 2sch) |
28.3.2001
(prog) |
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 1.5
RS - 1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
International Criminal Court
(84cl, 10sch)
- ditto -
|
3.4.2001
(prog)
10.5.2001 |
C
RS
RS |
1R, 2R |
SC proceedings to conclude by 3.5
RS - 1 Day
RS - 3 hrs |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Elections (8cl, 1sch) |
4.4.2001
|
All Stages |
1R |
1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Election Publications [HL] (3cl) |
4.4.2001
|
All Stages |
1R |
1 Day |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Finance
(108cl, 32sch)
- ditto -
|
9.4.2001
(prog)
9.5.2001 |
CWH
C
RS |
1R, 2R |
CWH - 2 Days
SC proceedings to conclude
by 24.5.2001
RS - 3 hrs |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) (6cl)
- ditto - |
30.4.2001
(prog)
9.5.2001
(prog) |
C
RS
RS (Rev) |
1R, 2R
|
SC proceedings to conclude by 24.5.2001
RS - 1 Day
RS - 2 hrs |
* Proceedings formal, no debate
*** New Sessional orders for programme motions' introduced
Section A5
Estimates Days
Standing Order No 52 provides that three days shall be allotted during each session for the consideration of Estimates (see HCIO Factsheet No P6). The Subjects are set down by resolution of the Liaison Committee.
|
Date |
No. of Allotted Day |
Estimate class no. and Vote discussed |
Principal Subjects |
| |
|
|
|
|
19.12.00 |
1st (part 1) |
Class III, Vote 4 |
Urban regeneration in England |
| |
|
|
|
|
15.3.01 |
2nd |
Vote on Account |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Weapons of mass destruction |
| |
|
|
|
Section A6
Government Substantive Motions
|
Date
|
Subject |
|
19.12.00 |
Joint Committee on Tax Simplification Bills |
|
15.1.01 |
Joint Committee on Tax Simplification (Standing Order) |
|
15.1.01 |
Joint Committee on Tax Simplification (Membership) |
|
15.1.01 |
Joint Committee on Human Rights (Standing Order) |
|
15.1.01 |
Joint Committee on Human Rights (Membership) |
|
23.1.01 |
Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 |
|
23.1.01 |
Sittings in Westminster Hall (additional Deputy Speakers) |
|
27.2.01 |
Deferred Divisions (Change of Timing on Budget Day) |
|
27.2.01 |
Vote on Account 2001-02 |
|
5.3.01 |
Language of Parliamentary Proceedings |
|
13.3.01 |
European Security and Defence Policy |
|
29.3.01 |
Science and Technology Committee |
|
2.5.01 |
Working Group on provision for former Members |
Section A7
Standing Order No 24
Standing Order No 24 allows Members to suggest that a specific and important matter should have urgent consideration and that an emergency debate be held upon it. It is for the Speaker to decide whether the matter is sufficiently specific, important and urgent to warrant giving it precedence, and among other things to have regard to the probability of the matter being brought before the House by other means; the Chair in general gives leave very seldom. During the 2000-2001 Session, there were 4 unsuccessful applications.
Section A8
Divisions
The total number of divisions during the Session was 209.
Section A9
Early Day Motions
The total number of Early Day Motions tabled during the Session was 659, of which 24 were prayers for the annulment of statutory instruments. Factsheet No P3 on Early Day Motions is available from the House of Commons Information Office.
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