Sessional Returns 2006-07 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 15th November 2006 and ended on 30th October 2007. The House sat Monday-Thursday and on those Fridays listed below between, or on, the following dates (inclusive): 15th November 2006-19th December 2006; 8th January 2007-8th February 2007; 19th February 2007-29th March 2007; 16th April 2007-3rd May 2007; 8th May 2007-24th May 2007; 4th June 2007-26th July 2007; and 8th October 2007-30th October 2007.

The House sat on the following Fridays: 19th and 26th January 2007; 2nd and 23rd February 2007; 2nd, 9th and 23rd March 2007; 20th and 27th April 2007; 18th May 2007; 15th and 29th June 2007; and 19th October 2007.

The average sitting day lasted 7 hours and 40 minutes; and the average duration of sitting beyond the moment of interruption (10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 p.m. on Thursday and 2.30 p.m. on Fridays) was 35 minutes.

All figures are in hours and minutes
MonthNo. of days No. of hours of sitting No. of hours after moment of interruption
2006-07 Session began 15th November 2006
November 200610 86.048.46
December 200610 81.286.37
Christmas adjournment

20th December 2006-7th January 2007
January 200717 124.588.24
February 200714 106.508.05
February adjournment

9th February 2007-18th February 2007
March 200720 151.4412.42
Easter adjournment

30th March 2007-15th April 2007
April 200711 83.045.34
May 200715 112.137.06
Whitsun adjournment

25th May 2007-3rd June 2007
June 200718 135.258.57
July 200716 131.3013.18
Summer adjournment

27th July 2007-7th October 2007
October 200715 105.364.43
Parliament prorogued 30th October 2007
TOTAL:146 1118.5284.51


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 2006
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
15thWednesday11.25 am 10.16 pm10.51
0.16
16thThursday10.30 am 6.30 pm8.00
0.30
17thFridayNon-Sitting
20thMonday2.30 pm 10.31 pm8.01
0.31
21stTuesday2.30 pm 10.33 pm8.03
0.33
22ndWednesday11.30 am 10.41 pm11.11
3.41
23rdThursday10.30 am 6.46 pm8.16
0.46
24thFridayNon-Sitting
27thMonday2.30 pm 11.14 pm8.44
1.14
28thTuesday2.30 pm 9.33 pm7.03
29thWednesday11.30 am 7.26 pm7.56
0.26
30thThursday10.30 am 6.29 pm7.59
0.29
No. of sitting days: 10 TOTAL:86.04
8.46


DECEMBER 2006
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stFridayNon-Sitting
4thMonday2.30 pm 10.25 pm7.55
0.25
5thTuesday2.30 pm 10.53 pm8.23
0.53
6thWednesday11.30 am 7.27 pm7.57
0.27
7thAThursday 10.30 am6.35 pm8.05
0.35
8thFridayNon-Sitting
11thMonday2.30 pm 11.00 pm8.30
1.00
12thTuesday2.30 pm 10.54 pm8.24
0.54
13th Wednesday11.30 am 7.49 pm8.19
0.49
14thThursday10.30 am 7.06 pm8.36
1.06
15thFridayNon-Sitting
18thMonday2.30 pm 9.52 pm7.22
19thTuesday11.30 am 7.27 pm7.57
0.27
House rose for Christmas adjournment
No. of sitting days: 10 TOTAL:81.28
6.37


JANUARY 2007
House sat after Christmas adjournment
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
8thMonday2.30 pm 10.09 pm7.39
0.09
9thTuesday2.30 pm 10.30 pm8.00
0.30
10thWednesday11.30 am 7.58 pm8.28
0.58
11thThursday10.30 am 6.24 pm7.54
0.24
12thFridayNon-Sitting
15thMonday2.30 pm 8.00 pm5.30
16thTuesday2.30 pm 10.31 pm8.01
0.31
17thWednesday11.30 am 7.30 pm8.00
0.30
18thThursday10.30 am 6.31 pm8.01
0.31
19thFriday9.30 am 2.58 pm5.28
0.28
22ndMonday2.30 pm 11.09 pm8.39
1.09
23rdTuesday2.30 pm 10.41 pm8.11
0.41
24thWednesday11.30 am 7.29 pm7.59
0.29
25thThursday10.30 am 6.40 pm8.10
0.40
26thFriday9.30 am 2.59 pm5.29
0.29
29thMonday2.30 pm 6.04 pm3.34
30thTuesday2.30 pm 10.48 pm8.18
0.48
31stWednesday11.30 am 7.07 pm7.37
0.07
No. of sitting days: 17 TOTAL:124.58
8.24


FEBRUARY 2007
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stThursday10.30 am 6.28 pm7.58
0.28
2ndFriday9.30 am 2.59 pm5.29
0.29
5thMonday2.30 pm 10.48 pm8.18
0.48
6thTuesday2.30 pm 10.32 pm8.02
0.32
7thWednesday11.30 am 7.54 pm8.24
0.54
8thThursday10.30 am 6.28 pm7.58
0.28
February adjournment
19thMonday2.30 pm 10.16 pm7.46
0.16
20thTuesday2.30 pm 8.45 pm6.15
21stWednesday11.30 am 7.45 pm8.15
0.45
22ndThursday10.30 am 6.30 pm8.00
0.30
23rdFriday9.30 am 3.01 pm5.31
0.31
26thMonday2.30 pm 11.00 pm8.30
1.00
27thTuesday2.30 pm 10.44 pm8.14
0.44
28thWednesday11.30 am 7.40 pm8.10
0.40
No. of sitting days: 14 TOTAL:106.50
8.05


MARCH 2007
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stThursday10.30 am 6.25 pm7.55
0.25
2ndFriday9.30 am 3.02 pm5.32
0.32
5thMonday2.30 pm 8.23 pm5.53
6thTuesday2.30 pm 10.30 pm8.00
0.30
7thWednesday11.30 am 7.55 pm8.25
0.55
8thThursday10.30 am 6.28 pm7.58
0.28
9thFriday9.30 am 2.59 pm5.29
0.29
12thAMonday 2.30 pm10.35 pm8.05
0.35
13thTuesday2.30 pm 10.30 pm8.00
0.30
14thWednesday11.30 am 8.03 pm8.33
1.03
15thThursday10.30 am 6.37 pm8.07
0.37
16thFridayNon-Sitting
19thMonday2.30 pm 8.37 pm6.07
20thTuesday2.30 pm 10.30 pm8.00
0.30
21stWednesday11.30 am 7.35 pm8.05
0.35
22ndThursday10.30 am 6.29 pm7.59
0.29
23rdFriday9.30 am 3.01 pm5.31
0.31
26thMonday2.30 pm 10.31 pm8.01
0.31
27thTuesday 2.30 pm1.29 am 10.59
3.29
28thWednesday11.30 am 7.33 pm8.03
0.33
29thThursday10.30 am 5.32 pm7.02
House rose for Easter adjournment
No. of sitting days: 20 TOTAL:151.44
12.42


APRIL 2007
House sat after Easter adjournment
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
16thMonday2.30 pm 10.27 pm7.57
0.27
17thTuesday2.30 pm 10.58 pm8.28
0.58
18thWednesday11.30 am 7.25 pm7.55
0.25
19thThursday10.30 am 6.25 pm7.55
0.25
20thFriday9.30 am 3.00 pm5.30
0.30
23rdMonday2.30 pm 10.50 pm8.20
0.50
24thTuesday2.30 pm 10.56 pm8.26
0.56
25thWednesday11.30 am 7.09 pm7.39
0.09
26thThursday10.30 am 6.29 pm7.59
0.29
27thFriday9.30 am 2.37 pm5.07
0.07
30thMonday2.30 pm 10.18 pm7.48
0.18
No. of sitting days: 11 TOTAL:83.04
5.34


MAY 2007
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
1stTuesday2.30 pm 11.27 pm8.57
1.27
2ndWednesday11.30 am 7.27 pm7.57
0.27
3rdThursday10.30 am 6.00 pm7.30
4thFridayNon-Sitting
7thMondayNon-sitting
8thTuesday2.30 pm 10.43 pm8.13
0.43
9thWednesday11.30 am 7.29 pm7.59
0.29
10thThursday10.30 am 4.39 pm6.09
11thFridayNon-Sitting
14thMonday2.30 pm 6.50 pm4.20
15thTuesday2.30 pm 10.51 pm8.21
0.51
16thWednesday11.30 am 6.40 pm7.10
17thThursday10.30 am 6.33 pm8.03
0.33
18thFriday9.30 am 3.06 pm5.36
0.36
21stMonday2.30 pm 10.40 pm8.10
0.40
22ndTuesday2.30 pm 10.33 pm8.03
0.33
23rdWednesday11.30 am 7.47 pm8.17
0.47
24thThursday10.30 am 5.58 pm7.28
House rose for Whitsun adjournment
No. of sitting days: 15 TOTAL:112.13
7.06


JUNE 2007
House sat after Whitsun adjournment
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
4thMonday2.30 pm 9.22 pm6.52
5thTuesday2.30 pm 9.57 pm7.27
6thWednesday11.30 am 7.50 pm8.20
0.50
7thThursday10.30 am 5.30 pm7.00
8thFridayNon-sitting
11thMonday2.30 pm 10.40 pm8.10
0.40
12thTuesday2.30 pm 8.58 pm6.28
13thWednesday11.30 am 6.01 pm6.31
14thThursday10.30 am 6.17 pm7.47
0.17
15thFriday9.30 am 2.57 pm5.27
0.27
18thMonday2.30 pm 10.52 pm8.22
0.52
19thTuesday2.30 pm 10.41 pm8.11
0.41
20thWednesday11.30 am 7.18 pm7.48
0.18
21stThursday10.30 am 5.50 pm7.20
22ndFridayNon-sitting
25thMonday2.30 pm 11.07 pm8.37
1.07
26thTuesday 2.30 pm12.37 am 10.07
2.37
27thWednesday11.30 am 7.30 pm8.00
0.30
28thThursday10.30 am 5.50 pm7.20
29thFriday9.30 am 3.08 pm5.38
0.38
No. of sitting days: 18 TOTAL:135.25
8.57


JULY 2007
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
2ndMonday2.30 pm 11.12 pm8.42
1.12
3rdTuesday2.30 pm 10.58 pm8.28
0.58
4thWednesday11.30 am 6.38 pm7.08
5thThursday10.30 am 4.30 pm6.00
6thFridayNon-sitting
9thAMonday 2.30 pm10.30 pm8.00
0.30
10thTuesday2.30 pm 10.15 pm7.45
0.15
11thWednesday11.30 am 8.58 pm9.28
1.58
12thThursday10.30 am 6.33 pm8.03
0.33
13thFridayNon-sitting
16thMonday2.30 pm 10.56 pm8.26
0.56
17thTuesday2.30 pm 9.28 pm6.58
18thWednesday11.30 am 8.31 pm9.01
0.31
19thThursday10.30 am 6.30 pm8.00
0.30
20thFridayNon-sitting
23rdMonday2.30 pm 9.36 pm7.06
24thTuesday2.30 pm 11.01 pm8.31
1.01
25thWednesday11.30 am 11.24 pm11.54
4.24
26thThursday10.30 am 6.30 pm8.00
0.30
House rose for Summer adjournment
No. of sitting days: 16 TOTAL:131.30
13.18


OCTOBER 2007
House sat after Summer adjournment
Day of the month Day of the week Hour of meetingHour of adjournment No. of hours No. of hours after moment of interruption
8thMonday2.30 pm 10.50 pm8.20
0.50
9thTuesday2.30 pm 10.08 pm7.38
0.08
10thWednesday11.30 am 7.59 pm8.29
0.59
11thThursday10.30 am 4.53 pm6.23
12thFridayNon-sitting
15thMonday2.30 pm 10.29 pm7.59
0.29
16thTuesday2.30 pm 10.29 pm7.59
0.29
17thWednesday11.30 am 7.30 pm8.00
0.30
18thThursday10.30 am 6.12 pm7.42
0.12
19thFriday9.30 am 3.07 pm5.37
0.37
22ndMonday2.30 pm 10.29 pm7.59
0.29
23rdTuesday2.30 pm 9.55 pm7.25
24thWednesday11.30 am 6.41 pm7.11
25thThursday10.30 am 5.35 pm7.05
26thFridayNon-sitting
29thMonday2.30 pm 9.43 pm7.13
30thTuesday11.30 am 12.06 pm0.36
Parliament prorogued
No. of sitting days: 15 TOTAL:105.36
4.43




Under Standing Order No. 10, on days on which the House sits there are sittings in Westminster Hall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Tuesdays sittings begin at half-past nine o'clock and continue until two o'clock. On 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.
NOVEMBER 2006
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
28thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
29thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
2.30
30thAThursday 2.30 pm5.20 pm
2.50
No. of sitting days: 3 TOTAL:
9.50

DECEMBER 2006
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
5thTuesday9.30 am 1.57 pm
4.27
6thWednesday9.30 am 4.42 pm
4.12
7thAThursday 2.30 pm4.57 pm
2.27
12thTuesday9.30 am 1.56 pm
4.26
13thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.30
14thThursday2.30 pm 5.30 pm
3.00
No. of sitting days: 6 TOTAL:
23.02


JANUARY 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
9thTuesday9.30 am 1.58 pm
3.28
10thWednesday9.30 am 5.09 pm
4.39
11thThursday2.30 pm 5.30 pm
3.00
16thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
17thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.30
18thAThursday 2.30 pm4.45 pm
2.15
23rdTuesday9.30 am 1.58 pm
4.28
24thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.29
25thAThursday 2.30 pm6.45 pm
4.15
30thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
31stWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.24
No. of sitting days: 11 TOTAL:
44.26

FEBRUARY 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
1stAThursday 2.30 pm5.30 pm
3.00
6thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
7thWednesday9.30 am 5.26 pm
4.50
8thThursday2.30 pm 4.59 pm
3.00
20thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
21stWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
5.00
22ndAThursday 2.43 pm5.27 pm
2.44
27thTuesday9.30 am 1.52 pm
4.22
28thWednesday9.30 am 5.15 pm
4.40
No. of sitting days: 9 TOTAL:
36.36


MARCH 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
1stThursday2.30 pm 5.29 pm
2.59
6thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
7thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.30
8thAThursday 2.30 pm5.04 pm
2.34
13thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
14thWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.30
15thAThursday 2.30 pm5.28 pm
2.58
20thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
21stWednesday9.30 am 5.00 pm
4.29
22ndAThursday 2.30 pm4.51 pm
2.21
27thTuesday9.30 am 1.46 pm
4.16
28thWednesday9.30 am 5.15 pm
4.45
No. of sitting days: 12 TOTAL:
46.51


APRIL 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
17thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
18thWednesday9.30 am 5.37 pm
5.04
19thAThursday 2.30 pm5.29 pm
2.59
24thTuesday9.30 am 1.58 pm
4.28
25thWednesday9.30 am 4.56 pm
4.26
26thAThursday 2.30 pm4.30 pm
2.00
No. of sitting days: 6 TOTAL:
23.27


MAY 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
1stTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
2ndWednesday9.30 am 4.29 pm
3.59
8thTuesday9.30 am 1.57 pm
3.27
9thWednesday9.30 am 4.59 pm
4.21
10thAThursday 2.30 pm5.30 pm
3.00
15thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.30
16thWednesday9.30 am 5.24 pm
4.54
17thThursday2.30 pm 5.32 pm
3.02
22ndTuesday9.30 am 1.53 pm
4.23
23rdWednesday9.30 am 5.11 pm
4.41
24thAThursday 2.30 pm5.16 pm
2.46
No. of sitting days: 11 TOTAL:
43.32


JUNE 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
5thTuesday9.30 am 1.53 pm
4.23
6thWednesday9.30 am 5.14 pm
4.44
7thAThursday 2.30 pm5.30 pm
3.00
12thTuesday9.30 am 1.55 pm
4.25
13thWednesday9.30 am 4.57 pm
4.27
14thAThursday 2.30 pm5.47 pm
3.17
19thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
20thWednesday9.30 am 4.59 pm
4.29
21stThursday2.30 pm 4.59 pm
2.29
26thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
27thWednesday9.30 am 5.36 pm
5.06
28thThursday2.30 pm 4.52 pm
2.22
No. of sitting days: 12 TOTAL:
47.40


JULY 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
3rdTuesday9.30 am 1.57 pm
4.27
4thWednesday9.30 am 4.59 pm
4.29
5thAThursday 2.51 pm5.21 pm
2.30
10thTuesday9.30 am 1.55 pm
4.25
11thWednesday9.30 am 5.13 pm
4.41
12thAThursday 2.30 pm6.00 pm
3.30
17thTuesday9.30 am 1.57 pm
4.27
18thWednesday9.30 am 5.28 pm
4.57
19thThursday2.30 pm 5.26 pm
2.56
24thTuesday9.30 am 1.58 pm
4.28
25thWednesday9.30 am 4.59 pm
4.27
No. of sitting days: 11 TOTAL:
45.17


OCTOBER 2007
Day of the month Day of the Week Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment No. of hours
9thTuesday9.30 am 1.59 pm
4.29
10thWednesday9.30 am 5.10 pm
4.40
11thAThursday 2.30 pm5.39 pm
2.59
16thTuesday9.30 am 2.00 pm
4.28
17thWednesday9.30 am 5.04 pm
4.33
18thThursday2.30 pm 4.30 pm
2.00
23rdTuesday9.30 am 1.58 pm
4.28
24thWednesday9.30 am 5.09 pm
4.39
25thAThursday 2.30 pm4.55 pm
2.25
No. of sitting days: 9 TOTAL:
34.41



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 40.140.59
Government Bills:     
Read a second time and committed to a Standing Committee 97.461.36
Read a second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House 22.020.21
Read a second time and not committed
Committee of the whole House20.44 0.58
Consideration105.172.11
Third Reading18.041.45
Lords Amendments31.22 2.14
Allocation of Time1.18 0.57
Committal and Carry-over Motions1.38 0.13
Private Members' Bills:     
  Second Reading and all stages 42.350.11
  Other Stages18.42 0.06
Private Business three hours before the moment of interruption
Government Motions:     
  European Union Documents 4.580.47
  Business Motions 0.28
  General38.30 2.05
Opposition Days116.49 7.01
Opposition Motions in Government time (other than Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments)
Private Members' Motions     
  Substantive8.03
  Ten-Minute Rule 9.36
Adjournment:     
  Government129.20 3.04
  Daily71.23 50.12
  Standing Order No. 24 debate
  Last day before recess 18.08
Estimates (debates on Select Committee Reports under Standing Order No. 54) 16.230.08
Money Resolutions0.37 0.37
Ways and Means25.24 2.57
Motions for approval of Statutory Instruments 16.15
Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments 1.46
No Question before the House:     
  Questions to Ministers 122.28
  Urgent Questions 6.00
  Statements 72.480.37
  Business Statements 27.31
  Standing Order No. 24 Applications 0.14
  Points of Order 4.170.18
  Public Petitions 3.162.23
  Suspension1 10.113.11
Daily Prayers12.13   
       
TOTAL1118.52 84.51

1 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:  
  Government16.20
  Balloted271.08
  Debates on Select Committee Reports   selected by the Liaison Committee 57.32
  Cross-cutting Questions
Points of Order
Suspension10.22
    
TOTAL355.22





 
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