Sitting Hours

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The usual times during which a House meets to conduct business.

Category: Parliamentary procedure

Also used as: sitting hours, meeting times, normal sitting hours, parliamentary sitting hours, House sitting hours

Source / explainer: Read the MPs’ Guide to Procedure on timings

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026

Sitting hours are the usual times when a House meets to conduct business. They matter for understanding when oral questions, statements, debates and votes are likely to happen. Actual timings can vary, and business may run later or finish earlier depending on the day’s proceedings.

Related terms

Business StatementA statement setting out forthcoming parliamentary business and scheduling.Order PaperThe official list of business scheduled for a sitting day in Parliament.Parliamentary TimetableThe planned order and timing of parliamentary business.Question TimeThe period in a sitting when ministers answer oral questions from MPs or peers.Sitting DayA day on which a House of Parliament meets to conduct business.
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