SESSIONAL RETURNS Session 2009-10 - SESSIONAL RETURNS 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 18 November 2009 and ended on 8 April 2010. The House sat Monday—Thursday and on those Fridays listed below between, or on, the following dates (inclusive): 18 November 2009—16 December 2009; 5 January 2010—10 February 2010; 22 February 2010—30 March 2010; 6 April 2010—8 April 2010.

The House sat on the following Fridays: 29 January 2010; 5 and 26 February 2010; and 5 and 12 March 2010.

The average sitting day lasted 7 hours and 50 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 41 minutes.



All figures are in hours and minutes
Month No. of days  No. of hours of sitting No. of hours after moment of interruption  
2009-10 Session began 18 November 2009
 
November 2009 59.34  
3.33
 
December 2009 10 85.52  
10.52
 
Christmas adjournment

17 December 2009-4 January 2010
 
January 2010 16 125.04  
10.15
 
February 2010 13 96.30  
7.13
 
February adjournment

11 February 2010-21 February 2010
 
March 2010 20 144.45  
9.16
 
Easter adjournment

31 March 2010-5 April 2010
 
April 2010 28.27  
6.10
 
Parliament prorogued 8 April
 
TOTAL: 69 540.12  
47.19
 








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 2009
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
18 Wednesday 11.25 am  10.27 pm 11.02 
0.27
 
19 Thursday 10.30 am  5.56 pm 7.26 
 
23 Monday 2.30 pm  10.28 pm 7.58 
0.28
 
24 Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.29 pm 7.59 
0.29
 
25 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.45 pm 8.15 
0.45
 
26 Thursday 10.30 am  7.04 pm 8.34 
1.04
 
30 Monday 2.30 pm  10.50 pm 8.20 
0.20
 
No. of sitting days: 7 TOTAL:  59.34 
3.33
 
DECEMBER 2009
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.34 pm 8.04 
0.34
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  8.45 pm 9.15 
1.45
 
Thursday 10.30 am  6.29 pm 7.59 
0.29
 
Monday 2.30 pm  10.31 pm 8.01 
0.31
 
Tuesday 2.30 pm  11.14 pm 8.44 
1.14
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  7.41 pm 8.11 
0.41
 
10 A Thursday  10.30 am 6.32 pm 8.02  
0.32
 
14 Monday  2.30 pm 12.19 am  9.49 
2.19
 
15 Tuesday  2.30 pm 12.11 am  9.41 
2.11
 
16 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.36 pm 8.06 
0.36
 
  House rose for Christmas adjournment   
No. of sitting days: 10 TOTAL:  85.52 
10.52
 





January 2010
 
House sat after Christmas adjournment
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
Tuesday 2.30 pm  11.28 pm 8.58 
1.28
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  5.13 pm 5.43 
 
Thursday 10.30 am  6.29 pm 7.59 
0.29
 
11 Monday 2.30 pm  11.10 pm 8.40 
1.10
 
12 Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.21 pm 7.51 
0.21
 
13 Wednesday 11.30 am  8.05 pm 8.35 
1.05
 
14 Thursday 10.30 am  6.10 pm 7.40 
0.10
 
18 Monday 2.30 pm  10.45 pm 8.15 
0.45
 
19 Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.53 pm 8.23 
0.53
 
20 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.40 pm 8.10 
0.40
 
21 Thursday 10.30 am  6.30 pm 8.00 
0.30
 
25 Monday 2.30 pm  10.27 pm 7.57 
0.27
 
26 Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.33 pm 8.03 
0.33
 
27 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.43 pm 8.13 
0.43
 
28 Thursday 10.30 am  5.36 pm 7.06 
 
29 Friday 9.30 am  3.01pm 5.31 
1.01
 
No. of sitting days: 16 TOTAL:  125.04 
10.15
 

february 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
Monday  2.30 pm  9.36 pm 7.06 
 
Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.32 pm 8.02 
0.32
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  7.44 pm 8.14 
0.44
 
Thursday 10.30 am  3.11 pm 4.41 
 
Friday 9.30 am  3.01 pm 5.31 
0.31
 
Monday 2.30 pm  10.30 pm 8.00 
0.30
 
Tuesday 2.30 pm  11.27 pm 8.57 
1.27
 
10 A Wednesday  11.30 am 7.28 pm 7.58  
0.28
 

February adjournment
 
22 Monday 2.30 pm  10.35 pm 8.05 
0.35
 
23 Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.48 pm 8.18 
0.48
 
24 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.44 pm 8.14 
0.44
 
25 Thursday 10.30 am  6.28 pm 7.58 
0.28
 
26 Friday 9.30 am  2.56 pm 5.26 
0.26
 
No. of sitting days: 13 TOTAL:  96.30 
7.13
 
march 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
Monday  2.30 pm  10.47 pm 8.17 
0.47
 
Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.27 pm 7.57 
0.27
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  4.00 pm 4.30 
 
Thursday 10.30 am  4.56 pm 6.26 
 
Friday 9.30 am  3.00 pm 5.30 
0.30
 
Monday  2.30 pm  10.11 pm 7.41 
0.11
 
Tuesday 2.30 pm  10.59 pm 8.29 
0.59
 
10 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.34 pm 8.04 
0.34
 
11 Thursday 10.30 am  4.44 pm 6.14 
 
12 Friday 9.30 am  2.59 pm 5.29 
0.29
 
15 Monday  2.30 pm  10.07 pm 7.37 
0.07
 
16 Tuesday 2.30 pm  11.09 pm 8.39 
1.09
 
17 Wednesday 11.30 am  4.08 pm 4.38 
 
18 Thursday 10.30 am  6.17 pm 7.47 
0.17
 
22 Monday  2.30 pm  9.06 pm 6.36 
 
23 Tuesday 2.30 pm  9.34 pm 7.04 
 
24 Wednesday 11.30 am  7.36 pm 8.06 
0.36
 
25 Thursday 10.30 am  6.22 pm 7.52 
0.22
 
29 Monday  2.30 pm  10.15 pm 7.45 
0.15
 
30 Tuesday 2.30 pm  12.33 am 10.03 
2.33
 
Easter adjournment
 
No. of sitting days: 20 TOTAL:  144.45 
9.16
 
april 2009
 
Day of the month  Day of the week  Hour of meeting Hour of adjournment  No. of hours  No. of hours after moment of interruption  
Tuesday 2.30 pm  11.29 pm 8.59 
1.29
 
Wednesday 11.30 am  11.41 pm 12.11 
4.41
 
Thursday 10.30 am  5.47 pm 7.17 
 
No. of sitting days: 3 TOTAL:  28.27 
6.10
 




B  Days and hours of sitting in Westminster Hall

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

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 and Wednesdays these sittings begin at half-past nine o'clock, are suspended from half-past eleven o'clock until half-past 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.

In calculating sitting times for Westminster Hall, the lunch-time suspensions occurring under the provisions of Standing Order No. 10 have not been included. Suspensions for other reasons, including Divisions in the House, are included in the total.
DECEMBER 2009
 
Day of the month  Day of the Week  Hour of meeting  Hour of adjournment  No. of hours 
Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  4.58 pm 
4.21
 
Thursday 2.30 pm  3.38 pm 
1.08
 
Tuesday 9.30 am  1.56 pm 
4.26
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  5.27 pm 
4.56
 
10 A Thursday  2.30 pm 4.53 pm 
2.23
 
15 Tuesday 9.30 am  1.59 pm 
4.29
 
16 Wednesday 9.30 am  4.58 pm 
4.27
 
No. of sitting days: 8 TOTAL:  
30.40
 



JANUARY 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the Week  Hour of meeting  Hour of adjournment  No. of hours 
Tuesday 9.30 am  1.28 pm 
3.58
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  5.07 pm 
4.37
 
7 A Thursday  2.30 pm 4.12 pm 
1.42
 
12 Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
13 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.19 pm 
4.41
 
14 Thursday 2.30 pm  4.08 pm 
1.38
 
19 Tuesday 9.30 am  1.58 pm 
4.28
 
20 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.12 pm 
4.42
 
21 Thursday 2.30 pm  5.50 pm 
3.20
 
26 Tuesday 9.30 am  1.59 pm 
4.29
 
27 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.10 pm 
4.38
 
28 A Thursday  2.30 pm 5.02 pm 
2.32
 
No. of sitting days: 12 TOTAL:  
45.15
 




FEBRUARY 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the Week  Hour of meeting  Hour of adjournment  No. of hours 
Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  5.00 pm 
4.30
 
4 A Thursday  2.30 pm 4.56 pm 
2.26
 
Tuesday 9.30 am  1.50 pm 
4.20
 
10 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.17 pm 
4.47
 
23 Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
24 Wednesday 9.30 am  4.56 pm 
4.26
 
25 A Thursday  2.30 pm 4.55 pm 
2.25
 
No. of sitting days: 8 TOTAL:  
31.54
 







MARCH 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the Week  Hour of meeting  Hour of adjournment  No. of hours 
Tuesday 9.30 am  1.57 pm 
4.27
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  5.00 pm 
4.26
 
4 A Thursday  2.30 pm 5.22 pm 
2.52
 
Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
10 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.00 pm 
4.30
 
11 Thursday 2.30 pm  5.29 pm 
2.59
 
16 Tuesday 9.30 am  1.58 pm 
4.28
 
17 Wednesday 9.30 am  4.55 pm 
4.22
 
18 A Thursday  2.30 pm 5.02 pm 
2.32
 
23 Tuesday 9.30 am  1.53 pm 
4.23
 
24 Wednesday 9.30 am  5.00 pm 
4.29
 
25 Thursday 2.30 pm  3.55 pm 
1.25
 
30 Tuesday 9.30 am  2.00 pm 
4.30
 
No. of sitting days: 13 TOTAL:  
49.53
 
APRIL 2010
 
Day of the month  Day of the Week  Hour of meeting  Hour of adjournment  No. of hours 
Tuesday 9.30 am  1.58 pm 
4.28
 
Wednesday 9.30 am  4.59 pm 
4.29
 
No. of sitting days: 2 TOTAL:  
8.57
 





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  37.57 0.46 
Government Bills:    
Read a second time and committed to Public Bill Committee  29.52 0.42 
Read a second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House (in whole or part)  26.39 1.54 
Read a second time and not committed -  
Committee of the whole House 38.08  3.57 
Consideration 42.04 0.00  
Third Reading 9.10 0.54  
Lords Amendments and subsequent stages  5.49 1.22 
Allocation of Time 4.18  1.01 
Committal and carry-over  -  
Private Members' Bills:    
  Second Reading and all stages 18.28  0.07 
  Other stages 5.56  0.00 
Private Business three hours before the moment of interruption  7.32 0.00 
Government Motions:    
  European Union Documents 2.56  0.13 
  Business Motions 3.55  0.00 
General 19.10  1.44 
Opposition Days 36.17  2.11 
Opposition Motions in Government time (other than Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments)  
Private Members' Motions    
  Substantive 0.46  0.25 
  Ten-Minute Rule 3.43  0.00 


Adjournment, general and topical debates:  
  
  General debates 24.13  0.01 
Topical Debates 5.57  0.00 
  Daily 34.53 24.42  
  Standing Order No. 24 debate -  
  Last day before recess 5.37  0.00 
Estimates (debates on Select Committee Reports under Standing Order No. 54)  11.10 0.06 
Money Resolutions 1.53  0.15 
Ways and Means 25.22 1.39  
Motions for approval of Statutory Instruments  16.31 2.04 
Motions to annul or revoke Statutory Instruments  
No Question before the House:    
  Questions to Ministers 46.52  0.00 
Topical Questions 12.19  0.00 
  Urgent Questions 5.03  0.00 
  Statements 24.52  0.00 
Speaker's Statements 0.07  0.00 
  Business Statements 11.57  0.00 
  Standing Order No. 24 Applications  
  Points of Order 5.22  0.41 
  Public Petitions 3.04  2.35 
  Miscellaneous

(including suspensions of the proceedings   of the House)1  

2.21 0.00 
Daily Prayers 5.38 0.00  
   
TOTAL 540.12 47.19  

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:  
  Government 9.01 
  Balloted 136.37 
  Debates on Select Committee Reports   selected by the Liaison Committee  17.10 
  Cross-cutting Questions -  
Points of Order 0.07 
Suspension 3.44 
  
TOTAL

Total number of sitting days in Westminster Hall  

166.39

43 





 

 
previous page contents next page

House of Lords home page Parliament home page House of Commons home page search page enquiries index  

 
© Parliamentary copyright 2010