Friday 12 July 2024

Chamber Information

Issue Six

Introduction

This document has been compiled by the Table Office as a guide to events likely to take place in and around the Chamber ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday 17 July, and on subsequent days. The usual Order of Business and Summary Agenda will be published daily from Thursday 18 July.

Updated Swearing In

Friday 12 and Monday 15 July

The House is not expected to meet.

Tuesday 16 July

The House will meet at 11.30am for swearing in. This will be the best opportunity for new Members who have not already done so to take the oath or affirm. New Members should aim to swear in before the King’s Speech.

Wednesday 17 July – The State Opening Of Parliament

The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Wednesday 17 July. The House will meet at 11.25am for the King’s Speech. Once Black Rod has summoned the Commons, Members may follow the Speaker and party leaders to hear the speech delivered in the House of Lords. Afterwards, if required, the House will meet at 2.00pm for swearing in before the start of the King’s Speech debate at 2.30pm.

The debate takes place on a Motion formally thanking the King for his speech and will be followed by an end-of-day adjournment debate (see below for further information).

Sitting days after the King’s Speech

The debate on the King’s Speech usually lasts for six sitting days. The Speaker usually announces the subjects to be debated on each day at the start of the debate on the first day.

On the final day of the debate on the King’s Speech, the House votes on the Motion. There may be votes on amendments to the Motion on the penultimate and final days.

The King’s Speech debate is the first opportunity for maiden speeches. Further guidance on the King’s Speech and maiden speeches is available on ParliNet, as well as from the Table Office and the Information Hub.

From the day after State Opening (Thursday 18 July), an Order of Business and Summary Agenda setting out each day’s business in the Chamber will be published daily.

These and other House business papers can be obtained online, on the House Papers app, in hard copy from the Vote Office or from the Information Hub.

Updated Applications for end-of-day Adjournment Debates

End-of-day adjournment debates and debates in Westminster Hall are allocated by ballots run by the Speaker’s Office, but applications should be made to the Table Office.

The deadline for applications for Wednesday 17 to Monday 22 July was Thursday 11 July at 6.00pm. The ballot will be run today.

The deadline for applications for Tuesday 23 to Monday 29 July is Wednesday 17 July at 10.00pm or the rise of the House, whichever is earlier.

Members can submit an application via MemberHub (the online tabling portal). Any Member wishing to submit an application who does not yet have access to MemberHub should contact the Table Office (ext. 3302/3303 or tableoffice@parliament.uk).

Debates in Westminster Hall

Debates in Westminster Hall will commence after the conclusion of the debate on the King’s Speech. The rota for Departments responding in Westminster Hall and the deadline for the first ballot for Westminster Hall debates will be published in the Announcements section of the Order Paper when the timings for the debate on the King’s Speech have been confirmed.

Parliamentary Questions and Early Day Motions

Deadlines for tabling oral Questions will be set out in an updated edition of this note once the dates of the King’s Speech debate and Summer Adjournment have been confirmed.

Written Parliamentary Questions and Early Day Motions (EDMs) can be submitted via MemberHub from 9.00am on Tuesday 9 July. However, they are not formally tabled until the day of State Opening. EDMs received in hard copy in the Table Office between 10.00am and 3.00pm on Wednesday 17 July will be given precedence for the purpose of numbering.

As all Questions submitted from 9 to 17 July are not formally tabled until 17 July, the usual daily limit on tabling written Questions via MemberHub applies to that period: up to 20 written Questions may be tabled via MemberHub. Up to five of these may be Named Day Questions, which have a specific date set for answer (the earliest date for answer for Named Day Questions is two clear days from the day of tabling e.g. the earliest date for answer for Named Day Questions tabled on Wednesday 17 July will be Monday 22 July). The remainder are Ordinary Questions, which usually receive an answer within two weeks.

Election of Deputy Speakers

The Speaker has indicated that, following the King’s Speech, he intends to announce the following arrangements for the election of Deputy Speakers.

The date for the election is likely to be Tuesday 23 July, with nominations to be submitted in the Table Office between 10am and 5pm on Monday 22 July. A provisional briefing note about the election is available in the Vote Office and the Table Office, along with nomination forms.

The Speaker’s formal announcement next week will provide more information, including about the timings and location of the ballot.

The House will also be invited next week to appoint a number of Members to serve as Deputy Speakers to cover until the election process is complete.

Other Matters

Information on arrangements for the Private Members’ Bill ballot will be announced when the timings have been confirmed.

Further information on proceedings in the Chamber is available from the Table Office and the Information Hub (see below for details).

Summary of Useful Information

For further information	Location / Contact	Opening Times (12 – 16 July)
Table Office	Behind Speaker’s Chair Ext. 3302 / 3303 tableoffice@parliament.uk	Friday 12 and Monday 15 July: Closed Tuesday 16 July: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Information Hub	Ground floor of Portcullis House	9.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays