Dinner and lunch break business
23.We have considered a specific issue which has arisen in relation to business intended to be scheduled for dinner and lunch break. The main business of the day is often interrupted for dinner or lunch break business, usually a Question for Short Debate (QSD). How this works is very familiar to the House on days when the main business is a committee or report stage on a bill which is likely to last all day. In these circumstances the business is interrupted close to 7.30pm or 1.30pm for the dinner or lunch break business. Such dinner or lunch break business will appear at the end of the Order Paper with an italic notice to show it is anticipated to be taken at lunch or dinner.
24.There are days when the main business consists of several different items and it is not known how long each item will take but dinner or lunch break business is scheduled with the intention that it is taken around the usual time, though not necessarily interrupting business as the current procedures provide for. However, where the other business does not run to the expected time the existing Standing Orders and Companion provisions do not formally provide the flexibility to allow the dinner or lunch break business to be taken at the time intended.
25.We recommend that Standing Order 40 be amended as proposed in appendix 2. This will allow dinner and lunch break business to be taken at the expected time notwithstanding the progress of other business. Dinner and lunch break business should continue to be entered at the end of the Order Paper.