Sessional Returns 2004-05 - Contents


3  SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE

Information and statistics relating to the sittings of the House and the time spent on different types of Business on the floor of the House.

A  DAYS AND HOURS OF SITTING IN THE HOUSE

Summary

The Session began on 23rd November 2004 and ended on 7th April 2005. The House sat Monday-Friday (except on those Fridays listed below) between, or on, the following dates (inclusive): 23rd November 2004 (State Opening 23rd November 2004)-21st December 2004; 10th January 2005-10th February 2005; 21st February 2005-24th March 2005; and 4th-7th April 2005.

The House did not sit on the following Fridays: 26th November 2004; 3rd, 10th and 17th December 2004; and 14th, 21st and 28th January 2005.

The average sitting day lasted 8 hours and 14 minutes; and the average duration of sitting beyond the moment of interruption (10 p.m. on Monday, 7p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday and 2.30 p.m. on Fridays) was 1 hour and 8 minutes.

All figures are in hours and minutes
MonthNo. of days No. of hours of sitting No. of hours after moment of interruption
2003-04 Session began 23rd November 2004
(State Opening 23rd November 2004)
November5 40.332.05
December12 94.087.43
Christmas adjournment

22nd December 2004-9th January 2005
January13 104.3410.04
February14 110.1114.13
February adjournment

11th February 2005-20th February 2005
March17 150.5735.13
Easter adjournment

25th March 2005-3rd April 2005
April4 34.536.19
Parliament prorogued, 7th April 2005

(dissolved, 11th April 2005)
TOTAL:65 535.1675.37


Days and hours of sitting

(all figures are in hours and minutes)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Bold type indicates days on which the House rose at or after midnight

A denotes a day allotted for the consideration of Estimates under S.O. No. 54
NOVEMBER 2004
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
23rdTuesday11.25 a.m. 8.53 p.m.9.28
24thWednesday11.30 a.m. 7.26 p.m.7.56
0.26
25thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.26 p.m.6.56
0.26
26thNon-sitting Friday _—
29thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.30 p.m.8.00
0.30
30thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.43 p.m.8.13
0.43
No. of sitting days: 5 TOTAL:40.33
2.05

DECEMBER 2004
Day of the month Day of the weekHour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stWednesday11.30 a.m. 8.13 p.m.8.43
1.13
2ndThursday11.30 a.m. 6.50 p.m.7.20
0.50
3rdNon-sitting Friday
6thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.55p.m.8.25
0.55
7thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.39 p.m.8.09
0.39
8thWednesday11.30 a.m. 6.26 p.m.6.56
9thAThursday 11.30 a.m.6.32 p.m.7.02
0.32
10th Non-sitting Friday ? —
13thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.47 p.m.8.17
0.47
14thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.44 p.m.8.14
0.44
15thWednesday11.30 a.m. 6.59 p.m.7.29
16thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.13 p.m.6.43
0.13
17thNon-sitting Friday
20thMonday2.30 p.m. 11.21 p.m.8.51
1.21
21stTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.29 p.m.7.59
0.29
House rose for Christmas adjournment
No. of sitting days: 12 TOTAL:94.08
7.43

JANUARY 2005
House sat after Christmas adjournment
Day of the month Day of the weekHour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
10thMonday2.30 p.m. 11.06 p.m.8.36
1.06
11thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.48 p.m.8.18
0.48
12thWednesday11.30 a.m. 7.29 p.m.7.59
0.29
13thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.39 p.m.7.09
0.39
14thNon-sitting Friday
17thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.56 p.m.8.26
0.56
18thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.28 p.m.7.58
0.28
19thWednesday11.30 a.m. 7.51 p.m.8.21
0.51
20thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.30 p.m.7.00
0.30
21stNon-sitting Friday
24thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.31 p.m.8.01
0.31
25thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.59 p.m.8.29
0.59
26thWednesday11.30 a.m. 8.18 p.m.8.48
1.18
27thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.28 p.m.6.58
0.28
28thNon-sitting Friday
31stMonday2.30 p.m. 11.01 p.m.8.31
1.01
No. of sitting days: 13TOTAL: 104.34
10.04

FEBRUARY 2005
Day of the month Day of the weekHour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.29 p.m.7.59
0.29
2ndWednesday11.30 a.m. 8.29 p.m.8.59
1.29
3rdThursday11.30 a.m. 5.36 p.m.6.06
4thFriday9.30 a.m. 3.03 p.m.5.33
0.33
7thMonday2.30 p.m. 11.31 p.m.9.01
1.31
8thTuesday11.30 a.m. 8.14 p.m.8.44
1.14
9thWednesday11.30 a.m. 8.08 p.m.8.38
1.08
10thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.38 p.m.7.08
0.38
February adjournment
21st Monday2.30 p.m. 10.21p.m.7.51
0.21
22ndTuesday11.30 a.m. 8.48 p.m.9.18
1.48
23rdWednesday11.30 a.m. 9.06 p.m.9.36
2.06
24thThursday11.30 a.m. 5.22 p.m.5.52
25thFriday9.30 a.m. 2.57 p.m.5.27
0.27
28thMonday 2.30 p.m.12.29 a.m. 9.59
2.29
No. of sitting days: 14 TOTAL:110.11
14.13

MARCH 2005
Day of the month Day of the weekHour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stTuesday11.30 a.m. 8.04 p.m.8.34
1.04
2ndWednesday11.30 a.m. 7.51 p.m.8.21
0.51
3rdThursday11.30 a.m. 5.46 p.m.6.16
4thFriday9.30 a.m. 3.01 p.m.5.31
0.31
7thMonday2.30 p.m. 8.26 p.m.5.56
8thTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.35 p.m.8.05
0.35
9thAWednesday 11.30 a.m.9.01 p.m.9.31
2.01
10thThursday 11.30 a.m.7.52 p.m. 32.22
25.52
14thMonday2.30 p.m. 9.31 p.m.7.01
15thTuesday11.30 a.m. 6.43 p.m.7.13
16thWednesday11.30 a.m. 8.43 p.m.9.13
1.43
17thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.29 p.m.6.59
0.29
18thFriday9.30 a.m. 2.52 p.m.5.22
0.22
21stMonday2.30 p.m. 10.29 p.m.7.59
0.29
22ndTuesday11.30 a.m. 7.52 p.m.8.22
0.52
23rdWednesday11.30 a.m. 6.48 p.m.7.18
24thThursday11.30 a.m. 6.24 p.m.6.54
0.24
House rose for Easter adjournment
No. of sitting days: 17 TOTAL:150.57
35.13

APRIL 2005
House sat after Easter adjournment
Day of the month Day of the weekHour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
4thMonday2.30 p.m. 10.30 p.m.8.00
0.30
5thTuesday11.30 a.m. 9.19 p.m.9.49
2.19
6thWednesday11.30 a.m. 10.30 p.m.11.00
3.30
7thThursday11.30 a.m. 5.34 p.m.6.04
Parliament prorogued, 7th April (dissolved, 11th April)
No. of sitting days: 4 TOTAL:34.53
6.19


Under Standing Order No. 10 and the Order of the House of 29th October 2002, on days on which the House sits there are sittings in Westminster Hall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays these sittings begin at half-past nine o'clock, are suspended from half-past eleven o'clock until two o'clock and may then continue for up to a further two and a half hours. On Thursdays sittings begin at half-past two o'clock and continue for up to three hours. Any Member of the House may take part in sittings in Westminster Hall; and the business is appointed by the Chairman of Ways and Means.

B  DAYS AND HOURS OF SITTING IN WESTMINSTER HALL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A denotes a day on which a Select Committee Report was debated

In calculating sitting times for Westminster Hall, the lunch-time suspensions occurring under the Order of the House of 29th October 2002 have not been included. Suspensions for other reasons, including Divisions in the House, are included in the total.
DECEMBER 2004
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
2ndThursday2.30 p.m. 5.18 p.m.
2.48
7thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.29
8thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.28 p.m.
4.28
9thAThursday 2.30 p.m.4.29 p.m.
1.59
14thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.32 p.m.
4.31
15thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.21 p.m.
4.21
16thAThursday 2.30 p.m.5.56 p.m.
3.26
No. of sitting days: 7 TOTAL:
26.02

JANUARY 2005
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
11thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.28
12thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.29
13thAThursday 2.30 p.m.5.29 p.m.
2.59
18thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.27 p.m.
2.57
19thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.41 p.m.
4.41
20thAThursday 2.30 p.m.5.30 p.m.
3.00
25thTuesday9.30 a.m. 3.57 p.m.
3.34
26thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.28
27thThursday2.35 p.m. 6.09 p.m.
3.34
No. of sitting days: 9 TOTAL:
34.30

FEBRUARY 2005
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
1stTuesday9.30 a.m. 5.24 p.m.
5.24
2ndWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.22 p.m.
4.22
3rdThursday2.30 p.m. 5.07 p.m.
2.37
8thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.24 p.m.
4.23
9thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.29
10thAThursday 2.30 p.m.6.00 p.m.
3.30
22ndTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
4.27
23rdWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.29
24thAThursday 2.30 p.m.5.06 p.m.
2.36
No. of sitting days: 9 TOTAL:
36.17

MARCH 2005
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
1stTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.44 p.m.
4.43
2ndWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.29 p.m.
4.29
3rdAThursday 2.30 p.m.5.12 p.m.
2.42
8thTuesday9.30 a.m. 5.00 p.m.
4.59
9thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.45 p.m.
4.45
10thThursday2.30 p.m. 5.47 p.m.
3.17
15thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.19 p.m.
4.19
16thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
4.30
17thA Thursday 2.30 p.m.5.20 p.m.
2.50
22ndTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.31 p.m.
4.30
23rdWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
4.29
24thThursday2.30 p.m. 5.30 p.m.
3.00
No. of sitting days: 12 TOTAL:
48.33

APRIL 2005
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
5thTuesday9.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
4.30
6thWednesday9.30 a.m. 4.30 p.m.
4.24
No. of sitting days: 2 TOTAL:
8.54


C  DISTRIBUTION OF TIME ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE BETWEEN PRINCIPAL TYPES OF BUSINESS
Time spent (hours and minutes)
In total After moment of interruption
Addresses other than Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments 37.370.55
Government Bills:
  Read a second time and committed to a   Standing Committee 69.301.25
  Read a second time and committed to a   Committee of the Whole House 20.131.40
  Read a second time and not committed
  Committee of the Whole House 26.421.17
  Consideration 41.491.47
  Third Reading 13.234.18
  Lords Amendments 16.5712.31
  Allocation of Time 9.212.43
  Committal and Carry-over Motions 0.54
Private Members' Bills:
  Second Reading and all stages 19.260.06
  Other Stages
Private Business three hours before the moment of interruption
Government Motions:
  European Union Documents 3.24
  Business Motions 0.27
  General 8.320.31
Opposition Days 32.371.53
Opposition Motions in Government time (other than Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments)
Private Members' Motions
  Substantive 0.19
  Ten-Minute Rule 3.13
Adjournment:
  Government 17.450.20
  Daily33.35 24.05
  Standing Order No. 24 debate
  Last day before recess 9.27
Estimates (debates on Select Committee Reports under Standing Order No. 54) 7.060.02
Money Resolutions 0.120.12
Ways and Means 22.470.19
Motions for approval of Statutory Instruments 9.301.04
Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments
No Question before the House:
  Questions to Ministers 54.40
  Urgent Questions 1.53
  Statements 26.21
  Business Statements 11.30
  Standing Order No. 24 Applications
  Points of Order 3.180.01
  Public Petitions 0.590.39
  Miscellaneous 1.49
  (including suspensions of the proceedings   of the House)1 22.2919.49
Daily Prayers 5.20
TOTAL531.16 75.37

Not including suspensions on the days of State Opening or Prorogation

D  DISTRIBUTION OF TIME IN WESTMINSTER HALL BETWEEN  APPLICABLE TYPES OF BUSINESS
Time spent

(hours and minutes)

Adjournment:
  Government 13.28
  Balloted 111.28
  Debates on Select Committee Reports   selected by the Liaison Committee 21.24
  Cross-cutting Questions
Points of Order
Suspension7.56
TOTAL154.16





 
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Prepared 23 June 2005