Publications / Data

How long does it take for a new House of Commons to get fully up and running?

19 Apr 2020
Queen Elizabeth Tower, UK Houses of Parliament

There will be gaps in a new House of Commons' scrutiny of the government and engagement with the public until the events required at the start of a Parliament have taken place and all the necessary institutions and processes have been re-established. The length of time taken over procedures at the start of a Parliament therefore matters.

Last updated: 10 August, 2020 {: .small}

Our 'Back to Business' collection of procedural guides provides information about the key events and procedures at the start of a new Parliament.

The chart below shows the timings of key House of Commons events at the start of the 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Parliaments, in terms of sitting days.

Information about converting sitting days to calendar days can be found below the chart. {: .small }

The sitting days shown on the chart can be roughly converted to calendar days by bearing in mind that the House of Commons normally sits for four days per calendar week, and – most importantly – by factoring-in the placing of the relevant sitting day relative to the House's recesses (which are shown on the lower rows of the chart), especially the long summer recess.

For example, the new House of Commons' 30th sitting day fell less than two months after the start of the Parliament in 2010 and 2015 (because it preceded the summer recess), but over two months afterwards in 2019-20, and nearly four months afterwards in 2017; in the latter two cases, it fell after two recesses.

In 2020, House of Commons calendar timings were affected by the fact that between the Easter and Whitsun recesses the House sat for only three days per week, owing to the restrictions on proceedings arising from the Coronavirus crisis.

Precise dates for most House of Commons events can be found via House of Commons Votes and Proceedings (each daily edition of which includes the sitting-day number at top left). Further information, where needed, can be found in House of Commons Hansard and news items on the House of Commons website.

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 21-24 July 2025

The Prime Minister will appear before the House of Commons Liaison Committee. Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP and the Governor of the Bank of England will also appear before committees. Opposition Peers will challenge regulations that would allow foreign states to hold up to 15% of the shares or voting rights in news organisations. Education and Health Ministers will face oral questions from MPs. Peers will consider seven bills. The House of Commons will debate the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan and hold its Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment debate. Former civil servants Simon Case and Sir Tim Barrow will be introduced to the House of Lords. ❓ We value your thoughts. Please click here to let us know what you think of the Parliament Matters Bulletin in our reader survey.

20 Jul 2025
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News / Parliament gagged by super-injunction? A conversation with Joshua Rozenberg - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 101

Legal expert Joshua Rozenberg joins us this week to unpack the legal and constitutional ramifications of one of the most troubling intersections of government secrecy, national security, and parliamentary accountability in recent memory. Thousands of Afghans who had worked with British forces were placed at risk of Taliban revenge attacks after a catastrophic government data leak in 2022 exposed their details. In response, ministers secured a “super-injunction” – so secret that even its existence could not be reported – effectively silencing public debate and preventing parliamentary scrutiny for almost two years. The breach, only revealed this week, led to a covert resettlement scheme which has already cost taxpayers millions of pounds. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

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News / One year on: How is Parliament performing? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 100

In our 100th episode, we take stock of Parliament one year after the 2024 general election. With a fractured opposition, a dominant Labour government, and a House of Commons still governed by rules designed for a two-party system, how well is this new Parliament really functioning? Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

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News / Labour's welfare meltdown - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 99

It’s been a bruising week for the Government, as a Labour backbench revolt forced ministers to gut their own welfare reforms live in the House of Commons. We explore why Sir Keir Starmer appears to have such a poor grip on parliamentary management. Plus, House of Lords reform expert Professor Meg Russell explains why the hereditary peers bill may be a once-in-a-generation chance to tackle deeper issues — like curbing prime ministerial patronage and reducing the bloated size of the upper chamber. And in Dorking, faith and politics collide over assisted dying. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

04 Jul 2025
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Submissions / Parliamentary scrutiny of treaties - Our evidence to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee

Our evidence on treaty scrutiny has been published by the House of Lords International Agreements Committee. Our submission outlines the problems with the existing framework for treaty scrutiny and why legislative and cultural change are needed to improve Parliament's scrutiny role. Our evidence joins calls for a parliamentary consent vote for the most significant agreements, a stronger role for Parliament in shaping negotiating mandates and monitoring progress, and a sifting committee tasked with determining which agreements warrant the greatest scrutiny.

03 Jun 2025
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