Sessional statistics on Business and Membership
Browse the full sessional statistics, which provide a breakdown of the work of the House of Lords for each session of Parliament.
Session 2008-09: 3 December 2008 to 12 November 2009
Sittings of the House in the session
(Excluding Grand Committees)
|
Sittings of the House in the session
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Number of sitting days
(excluding days when the House sat for judicial business only and swearing-in days)
|
134
|
164
|
142
|
206
|
2.
|
Number of weeks during which the House sat
|
32
|
40
|
35
|
50
|
3.
|
Number of Friday sittings
|
11
|
12
|
9
|
14
|
4.
|
Number of hours for which the House sat*
|
907:22
|
1110:09
|
926:19
|
1372:44
|
5.
|
Average daily attendance
|
400
|
413
|
415
|
403
|
|
Length of sittings
|
|
|
|
|
6.
|
Average length of sitting*
|
6:46
|
6:46
|
6:31
|
6:39
|
7.
|
Number of sittings continuing beyond 10pm
|
37
|
53
|
36
|
54
|
8.
|
Number of sittings continuing to 10:40pm and beyond
|
10
|
18
|
12
|
21
|
|
Divisions (votes) in the session
|
|
|
|
|
9.
|
Number of divisions – see note below
|
89
|
125
|
104
|
192
|
i)
|
Government victories in divisions
|
61
69%
|
93
75%
|
54
52%
|
124
65%
|
ii)
|
Government defeats in divisions
|
25
28%
|
29
23%
|
45
43%
|
62
32%
|
iii)
|
Unwhipped divisions
|
3
3%
|
3
2%
|
5
5%
|
6
3%
|
Dates of sessions
2008-09
|
3 December 2008 to 12 November 2009
|
2007-08
|
6 November 2007 to 26 November 2008
|
2006-07
|
15 November 2006 to 30 October 2007
|
2005-06‡
|
17 May 2005 to 8 November 2006
|
‡ This session, the first of the current Parliament, ran from May 2005 to November 2006. (Typically sessions run from November to November.)
* Time is shown in the form hours:minutes. Time shown includes adjournments during pleasure (breaks during a sitting). See How the time of the House was spent for details.
Divisions
A government victory or defeat is defined as one where at least one of the tellers is a government whip. Unwhipped divisions are divisions where none of the tellers is a government whip, so the Government in the Lords has not taken a formal position on the question being voted upon.
Number of questions, debates, statements, and proceedings on delegated legislation
(Excluding Grand Committee)
1.
|
Oral Questions (up to four questions totalling 30 minutes each day Monday - Thursday)
|
484
|
595
|
519
|
743
|
2.
|
Private Notice Questions (oral questions on urgent matters, up to 10 minutes of questions and answers)
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
3.
|
Questions for Written Answer answered
|
5655
|
5814
|
5118
|
7374
|
|
Debates - Number of motions in each category:
|
|
|
|
|
4.
|
General back-bench debates (allocated by party/group)
|
27
|
36
|
23
|
52
|
5.
|
General back-bench debates (allocated by ballot and time-limited to 2½ hours)
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
22
|
6.
|
Other general back-bench debates (not on the normal debate day)
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
7.
|
General ‘take note’ debates initiated by the Government
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
6
|
8.
|
Debates on Select Committee reports - total
|
17
|
27
|
24
|
32
|
i)
|
On European Union Committee reports
|
6
|
10
|
13
|
15
|
ii)
|
On other investigative Select Committee reports
|
11
|
11
|
7
|
5
|
iii)
|
On domestic Select Committee reports (administration & procedure)
|
3
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
9.
|
Questions for Short Debate - total
|
38
|
45
|
55
|
89
|
i)
|
Taken in normal time
|
11
|
15
|
29
|
51
|
ii)
|
Taken in the dinner/lunch break
|
27
|
30
|
26
|
38
|
10.
|
Motion for an Address on the Queen’s Speech
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
11.
|
Motions for an Address not on the Queen’s Speech or on delegated legislation
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
Statements – Number of:
|
|
|
|
|
12.
|
Ministerial Statements made and debated in the House
|
66
|
63
|
59
|
71
|
13.
|
Written Statements
|
1112
|
1242
|
1043
|
1648
|
|
Delegated Legislation – Number of:
|
|
|
|
|
14.
|
Motions to approve affirmative instruments
|
187
|
185
|
169
|
219
|
15.
|
Motions to annul negative instruments
|
3
|
17
|
6
|
11
|
16.
|
Other proceedings on delegated legislation
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
7
|
How the time of the House was spent
(Excluding Grand Committee)
|
The time of the House was spent approximately as follows (with percentages of total sitting time):
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Prayers (six minutes at the start of each sitting day)
|
12:15
1.4%
|
14:00
1.3%
|
11:40
1.3%
|
16:48
1.2%
|
2.
|
Introductions of new Members
|
1:28
0.2%
|
1:41
0.2%
|
1:46
0.2%
|
7:39
0.6%
|
3.
|
Oral Questions (up to four questions totalling 30 minutes each day Monday - Thursday)
|
61:31
6.8%
|
75:54
6.8%
|
64:46
7%
|
92:54
6.8%
|
4.
|
Private Notice Questions (oral questions on urgent matters, up to 10 minutes of questions and answers)
|
1:19
0.1%
|
0:31
<0.1%
|
0:18
<0.1%
|
0:21
<0.1%
|
5.
|
General back-bench debates (allocated by party/group)
|
70:03
7.7%
|
90:39
8.2%
|
88:04
9.5%
|
137:41
10.0%
|
6.
|
General back-bench debates (allocated by ballot and time-limited to 2½ hours)
|
25:06
2.8%
|
26:54
2.4%
|
28:44
3.1%
|
44:12
3.2%
|
7.
|
Other general back-bench debates (not on the normal debate day)
|
0:00
0%
|
4:14
0.4%
|
0:00
0%
|
4:29
0.3%
|
8.
|
General ‘take note’ debates initiated by the Government
|
13:08
1.4%
|
20:17
1.8%
|
43:25
4.7%
|
20:53
1.5%
|
9.
|
Debates on Select Committee reports - total
|
31:00
3.4%
|
37:17
3.4%
|
35:27
3.8%
|
59:48
4.4%
|
i)
|
European Union Committee reports
|
10:29
1.1%
|
14:46
1.3%
|
20:53
2.3%
|
34:28
2.5%
|
ii)
|
Science and Technology Committee reports
|
1:57
0.2%
|
4:30
0.4%
|
1:56
0.2%
|
10:51
0.8%
|
iii)
|
Economic Affairs Committee reports
|
2:25
0.3%
|
5:49
0.5%
|
3:09
0.3%
|
3:33
0.3%
|
iv)
|
Joint Committee on Human Rights reports
|
0:00
0%
|
1:00
0.1%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
v)
|
Constitution Committee reports
|
3:59
0.4%
|
1:49
0.2%
|
3:45
0.4%
|
0:00
0%
|
vi)
|
Communications Committee reports
|
3:48
0.4%
|
4:26
0.4%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
vii)
|
Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee reports
|
4:11
0.5%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
viii)
|
Reports of ad hoc committees
|
1:43
0.2%
|
1:46
0.2%
|
4:22
0.5%
|
0:00
0%
|
ix)
|
Domestic Select Committee reports (administration & procedure)
|
2:28
0.3%
|
3:11
0.3%
|
1:22
0.1%
|
10:56
0.8%
|
10.
|
Questions for Short Debate - total
|
37:29
4.1%
|
45:22
4.1%
|
57:04
6.1%
|
95:25
7.0%
|
i)
|
Taken in normal time
|
11:29
1.3%
|
17:43
1.6%
|
31:44
3.4%
|
59:50
4.2%
|
ii)
|
Taken in the dinner/lunch break
|
26:00
2.8%
|
27:39
2.5%
|
25:20
2.7%
|
37:35
2.8%
|
11.
|
Motion for an Address on the Queen’s Speech
|
32:22
3.7%
|
32:02
2.9%
|
32:43
3.5%
|
32:15
2.3%
|
12.
|
Motions for an Address not on the Queen’s Speech or on delegated legislation
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:11
<0.1%
|
13.
|
Ministerial Statements made and debated in the House
|
51:36
5.7%
|
50:24
4.5%
|
45:46
4.9%
|
52:13
3.8%
|
14.
|
Church of England Measures
|
0:33
0.1%
|
0:19
<0.1%
|
0:20
<0.1%
|
0:14
<0.1%
|
15.
|
Public Bills (See Time spent on Public Bills)
|
509:56
56.2%
|
623:20
56.1%
|
446:13
48.2%
|
719:49
52.4%
|
16.
|
Private Bills
|
2:01
0.2%
|
2:35
0.2%
|
1:22
0.1%
|
5:14
0.4%
|
17.
|
Approval of affirmative instruments
|
27:44
3.0%
|
40:14
3.6%
|
35:21
3.8%
|
42:09
3.1%
|
18.
|
Motions to annul negative instruments
|
5:41
0.6%
|
9:16
0.8%
|
7:50
0.8%
|
6:42
0.5%
|
19.
|
Other proceedings on delegated legislation
|
4:07
0.5%
|
5:06
0.5%
|
5:21
0.6%
|
5:36
0.4%
|
20.
|
Formal business
|
4:18
0.5%
|
3:53
0.3%
|
3:13
0.3%
|
5:18
0.4%
|
21.
|
Adjournments during pleasure (breaks during a sitting)
|
14:00
1.5%
|
25:58
2.3%
|
13:31
1.5%
|
12:43
0.9%
|
22.
|
Other (tributes, unusual events and procedures)
|
0:39
0.1%
|
0:13
<0.1%
|
3:17
0.3%
|
1:23
0.1%
|
Time spent on Public Bills
|
Public Bills
(including hybrid Bills) (time spent in Grand Committee is excluded)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The time spent on Bills (with percentages of total sitting time) was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
1.
|
Public Bills - total
|
509:56
56.2%
|
623:20
56.1%
|
446:13
48.2%
|
719:49
52.4%
|
2.
|
Public Bills according to House the bill was introduced into:
|
|
|
|
|
i)
|
Bills which started in the Lords
|
225:11
24.8%
|
203:34
18.3%
|
203:39
22%
|
217:29
15.8%
|
ii)
|
Bills which started in the Commons
|
284:45
31.4%
|
419:46
37.8%
|
242:34
26.2%
|
502:20
36.6%
|
3.
|
Public Bills according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
i)
|
Government Bills
|
478:45
52.8%
|
594:59
53.6%
|
402:57
43.5%
|
687:57
50.1%
|
ii)
|
Private Members’ Bills
|
31:11
3.4%
|
28:21
2.5%
|
43:16
4.7%
|
31:52
2.3%
|
4.
|
Time spent on second readings - total
|
95:15
10.5%
|
121:04
10.9%
|
111:19
12%
|
161:56
22.5%
|
|
Second reading according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) Government Bills which started in the Lords
|
26:05
2.9%
|
27:30
2.5%
|
24:14
2.6%
|
33:51
4.7%
|
|
b) Government Bills which started in the Commons
|
41:42
4.6%
|
72:25
6.5%
|
48:13
5.2%
|
97:44
13.6%
|
|
c) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Lords
|
23:28
2.6%
|
19:14
1.7%
|
36:17
3.9%
|
25:46
3.6%
|
|
d) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Commons
|
4:04
0.4%
|
1:55
0.2%
|
2:35
0.3%
|
4:35
0.6%
|
5
|
Time spent at committee stage – total excluding time in Grand Committee
|
251:21
27.7%
|
258:36
23.3%
|
171:16
18.5%
|
248:44
34.6%
|
|
Committee stage according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) Government Bills which started in the Lords
|
97:00
10.7%
|
60:12
5.4%
|
73:03
7.9%
|
48:39
6.8%
|
|
b) Government Bills which started in the Commons
|
150:38
16.6%
|
191:41
17.3%
|
95:17
10.3%
|
198:59
27.7%
|
|
c) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Lords
|
3:39
0.4%
|
6:38
0.6%
|
2:14
0.2%
|
1:04
0.1%
|
|
d) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Commons
|
0:04
<0.1%
|
0:05
<0.1%
|
0:42
0.1%
|
0:02
<0.1%
|
6
|
Time spent at report stage - total
|
133:38
14.7%
|
189:50
17.1%
|
118:45
12.8%
|
212:39
29.5%
|
|
Report stage according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) Government Bills which started in the Lords
|
63:19
7.0%
|
66:19
6.0%
|
48:44
5.3%
|
72:41
10.1%
|
|
b) Government Bills which started in the Commons
|
70:19
7.7%
|
123:25
11.1%
|
69:05
7.4%
|
139:54
19.4%
|
|
c) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Lords
|
0:00
0%
|
0:06
<0.1%
|
0:55
0.1%
|
0:04
<0.1%
|
|
d) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Commons
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:01
<0.1%
|
0:00
0%
|
7
|
Time spent on third reading and passing - total
|
15:32
1.7%
|
35:03
3.1%
|
22:17
2.4%
|
57:14
8%
|
|
Third reading and passing according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) Government Bills which started in the Lords
|
4:49
0.5%
|
11:22
1.0%
|
7:10
0.8%
|
20:36
2.9%
|
|
b) Government Bills which started in the Commons
|
10:43
1.2%
|
23:18
2.0%
|
14:35
1.6%
|
36:31
5%
|
|
c) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Lords
|
0:00
0%
|
0:11
<0.1%
|
0:20
<0.1%
|
0:05
<0.1%
|
|
d) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Commons
|
0:00
0%
|
0:12
<0.1%
|
0:12
<0.1%
|
0:02
<0.1%
|
8
|
Time spent on consideration of Bills returned from the House of Commons - total
|
14:10
1.6%
|
18:47
1.7%
|
22:36
2.5%
|
38:46
5.4%
|
|
Consideration of bills returned from the House of Commons according to type:
|
|
|
|
|
|
a) Government Bills which started in the Lords
|
6:51
0.8%
|
12:02
1.1%
|
10:42
1.2%
|
14:20
2%
|
|
b) Government Bills which started in the Commons
|
7:19
0.8%
|
6:25
0.6%
|
11:54
1.3%
|
24:26
3.4%
|
|
c) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Lords
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
|
d) Private Members’ Bills which started in the Commons
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
Grand Committees
The Grand Committee, which meets in the Moses Room, operates as a "second chamber" for the consideration of various types of business, including: committee stages of bills; consideration of delegated legislation instruments; Questions for Short Debate; debates on Select Committee and other reports and on national policy statements; and second reading debates on Law Commission bills. All peers may participate in Grand Committees, and proceedings mirror those in the Chamber on comparable business, with the exception that no divisions may take place.
|
Number of sitting days
|
62
|
75
|
43
|
85
|
|
Number of hours for which Grand Committees sat
|
198:31
|
256:57
|
142:46
|
288:14
|
1.
|
Number of public bill committee stages taken in Grand Committee
|
6
|
14
|
12
|
23
|
|
Time spent
|
120:44
61%
|
182:27
71%
|
101:31
71.1%
|
235:31
81.8%
|
2.
|
Number of Law Commission bill second reading debates taken in Grand Committee
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Time spent
|
1:19
0.6%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
0:00
0%
|
3.
|
Number of delegated legislation instruments considered in Grand Committee
|
124
|
103
|
92
|
106
|
|
Time spent
|
41:39
21%
|
36:23
14.2%
|
34:56
24.5%
|
36:21
12.6%
|
4.
|
Number of general debates taken in Grand Committee
|
25
|
27
|
1
|
8
|
|
Time spent
|
26:08
13%
|
26:22
10.2%
|
2:16
1.6%
|
13:13
4.6%
|
i)
|
Number of Questions for Short Debate taken in Grand Committee
|
18
|
25
|
0
|
5
|
|
Time spent
|
15:59
8%
|
23:31
9.1%
|
0:00
0%
|
5:24
1.9%
|
ii)
|
Number of debates on Select Committee reports taken in Grand Committee
|
7
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
Time spent
|
10:09
5%
|
2:51
1.1%
|
2:16
1.6%
|
7:49
2.7%
|
5.
|
Other
|
8:41
4.4%
|
11:45
4.6%
|
4:03
2.8%
|
2:51
1%
|
i)
|
Formal business
|
0:21
0.2%
|
0:1
<0.1%
|
0:21
0.2%
|
0:58
0.3%
|
ii)
|
Adjournments (breaks during a sitting)
|
8:20
4.2%
|
11:44
4.6%
|
3:42
2.6%
|
1:53
0.7%
|
Note
Adjournments in the Grand Committee are typically for divisions in the Chamber.
Membership of the House
At the end of session 2008-09 (12 November 2009)
By Party/Group
Conservative
|
141
|
39
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
189
|
Labour
|
208
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
212
|
Liberal Democrat
|
66
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
71
|
Crossbench
|
150
|
29†
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
183
|
Archbishops and Bishops
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
26
|
26
|
Other
|
21
|
2†
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
23
|
TOTAL
|
586
|
75
|
15
|
2
|
26
|
704
|
Note: The table excludes 13 Peers on leave of absence, 2 who are suspended, 16 disqualified as senior members of the judiciary and 1 disqualified as an MEP.
* These are the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal (Crossbench) and the Marquess of Cholmondeley, Lord Great Chamberlain (Crossbench).
† Lord Brabazon of Tara (Chairman of Committees), Earl Peel and Lord Willoughby de Broke were elected by the Conservative hereditary Peers but no longer sit as Conservatives.
By Type
Archbishops and bishops
|
26
|
0
|
26
|
Life Peers under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876
|
22
|
1
|
23
|
Life Peers under the Life Peerages Act 1958
|
450
|
145
|
595
|
Excepted hereditary Peers under the House of Lords Act 1999
|
90
|
2
|
92
|
TOTAL
|
588
|
148
|
736
|
|