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

Publications / Data

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

19 Apr 2020

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.

Latest / Highlights

Briefings / The assisted dying bill: A guide to the legislative process in the House of Lords

Having passed through the House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - the Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales - must now go through its legislative stages in the House of Lords. This guide explains the special procedures for legislation in the House of Lords, and for Private Members’ Bills in particular. It answers some frequently asked questions, including how Peers might block the Bill, and gives an explanation of each stage of the process, from Second to Third Reading.

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What’s coming up in Parliament this week? 8-12 September 2025

The Assisted Dying Bill has its Second Reading in the Lords, while in the Commons the Chancellor and Defence Secretary are among the Ministers facing questions. MPs also begin work on the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill and three other bills, on renters’ rights, bus services and pensions. Peers will examine bills on border security, planning, and children’s wellbeing, and will debate an Order to facilitate earlier prisoner deportation. Lisa Nandy appears before the Culture Committee, Lord Hermer before the Constitution Committee, and there is a pre-appointment hearing for the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists. MPs debate two e-petitions on indefinite leave to remain, and Sharon White, the former boss of retailer John Lewis, is formally introduced to the House of Lords. Note: The Ministers identified in this Bulletin may change following the Prime Minister’s reshuffle of the Cabinet and junior ranks. ❓ We value your thoughts. Please click here to let us know what you think of the Parliament Matters Bulletin in our reader survey.

Briefings / Delegated powers in the assisted dying bill: Issues for the attention of the House of Lords

Like many pieces of primary legislation, the assisted dying bill leaves much of the practical and policy detail to be worked out later by Ministers through regulations. After the Bill’s Second Reading in the House of Commons, we published a briefing which drew attention to two of its delegated powers. But since then the Bill has been heavily amended, prompting new questions: how have its delegated powers evolved, do these changes strengthen or weaken the approach to the delegation of ministerial power, and are further amendments needed and if so, why?

News / Is Parliament at the root of the country's problems? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 105

Does Parliament itself lie at the root of some of Britain’s political and economic difficulties? Lord Goodman argues that it does and so makes the case for urgent parliamentary reform. This week we also examine the implications of a Downing Street reshuffle that has created a “Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister,” raising new questions about accountability in the Commons. The discussion ranges from Angela Rayner’s uncertain position, Nigel Farage’s controversial US appearance, and the Greens’ leadership contest, to the growing use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary work. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

News / Prime Minister's Questions: Westminster's weekly gladiatorial combat - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 104

Every Wednesday at noon, the House of Commons chamber comes alive with Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), the loudest, most theatrical half-hour in British politics. To some it’s democratic accountability; to others, a raucous playground of yah-boo antics. Loved and loathed in equal measure, PMQs is Parliament’s weekly shop window, offering a revealing glimpse of how Britain does politics. In this episode, we explore its history, purpose, and international impact, including why France briefly trialled it last year only to drop the idea. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.