Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Academy Trust
A charitable company responsible for running one or more academy schools in England.
Act of Parliament
Abbreviation: Act
A law that has completed the parliamentary process and received Royal Assent.
Adjournment Debate
A debate, usually on a specific issue, held without a vote on a substantive motion.
Affirmative Procedure
A process requiring Parliament to approve a piece of delegated legislation before it can take effect.
Allocation of Time Motion
A motion limiting the time available for debate on a bill or other business.
Amendment
A proposed change to the wording of a bill, motion, or other parliamentary text.
Annually Managed Expenditure
Abbreviation: AME
Public spending that is demand-led or harder to control within fixed departmental limits.
Appropriation Act
An Act that authorises the use of public money for approved government spending.
Artificial Intelligence
Abbreviation: AI
Technology that can perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence, such as analysing information or generating responses.
Attorney General’s Office
Abbreviation: AGO
The government legal office that supports the Attorney General and Solicitor General.
Ayes
The votes cast in favour of a motion or question in a parliamentary division.
Backbench Business Committee
A Commons committee that gives backbench MPs opportunities to bring forward debates.
Backbench Business Debate
A debate on a subject chosen by backbench MPs rather than by the government.
Bank of England
Abbreviation: BoE
The UK’s central bank, responsible for monetary policy and financial stability.
Bill
A proposed law that must pass through Parliament before it can become an Act.
Border Force
The Home Office command responsible for securing the UK border.
Budget
A major statement setting out the government’s tax, spending and economic plans.
Business and Trade Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises the Department for Business and Trade.
Business Motion
A motion setting out how certain parliamentary business will be arranged or taken.
Business Statement
A statement setting out forthcoming parliamentary business and scheduling.
Cabinet Office
Abbreviation: CO
The government department that supports the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the effective running of government.
Call for Evidence
An invitation for written submissions to help inform a committee inquiry or review.
Care Quality Commission
Abbreviation: CQC
The independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England.
Carry-over Motion
A motion allowing a bill to continue into the next parliamentary session instead of falling.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Abbreviation: Chancellor
The senior minister responsible for the Treasury and the UK’s economic and fiscal policy.
Charity Commission for England and Wales
Abbreviation: Charity Commission
The regulator and registrar of charities in England and Wales.
Civil Aviation Authority
Abbreviation: CAA
The UK regulator for civil aviation.
Closure Motion
A motion asking the House to end debate and move to a decision.
Command Paper
Abbreviation: CP
A government paper formally presented to Parliament.
Commencement Order
A legal instrument that brings part or all of an Act into force.
Commencement Regulations
Regulations used to bring provisions of an Act into force.
Committal Motion
A motion deciding how or where a bill will be sent for detailed committee scrutiny.
Committee of Privileges
Abbreviation: Privileges Committee
A Commons committee that considers matters relating to parliamentary privilege referred to it by the House.
Committee of the whole House
A stage where the entire House considers a bill in committee form, rather than sending it to a smaller committee.
Committee on Standards
Abbreviation: Standards Committee
A Commons committee concerned with standards of conduct for MPs.
Committee Report
A published report setting out a parliamentary committee’s findings and recommendations.
Committee Stage
The stage where a bill is examined in detail and amendments can be considered line by line.
Competition and Markets Authority
Abbreviation: CMA
The UK regulator responsible for competition and consumer protection enforcement.
Confidence Motion
A motion used to test whether the government still has the support of the House of Commons.
Consolidation Bill
A bill that brings together existing law on a subject into a more orderly single Act, usually without major policy change.
Consumer Prices Index
Abbreviation: CPI
A measure of inflation based on changes in consumer prices.
Copyright
A legal right that protects original creative works from being copied or used without permission.
Creative Industries
Sectors of the economy based on creative work, such as film, music, publishing, design and the arts.
Crown Prosecution Service
Abbreviation: CPS
The public body responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in England and Wales.
Delegated Legislation
Law made under powers granted by an Act, rather than made directly through a new Act itself.
Delegated Legislation Committee
A Commons committee that debates certain statutory instruments and other delegated legislation.
Delegated Power
A power given by Parliament allowing ministers or another body to make detailed legal rules or take related action later.
Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
Abbreviation: DPRRC
A House of Lords committee that examines whether bills give ministers inappropriate delegated powers.
Delegated Powers Memorandum
A document explaining why a bill gives ministers or others powers to make delegated legislation.
Department for Business and Trade
Abbreviation: DBT
The UK Government department responsible for business, trade, investment and economic growth policy.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Abbreviation: DCMS
The UK Government department responsible for culture, media, sport, tourism and parts of the creative economy.
Department for Education
Abbreviation: DfE
The UK Government department responsible for education, children’s services and skills policy in England.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Abbreviation: DESNZ
The UK Government department responsible for energy policy, energy security and net zero policy.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Abbreviation: Defra
The UK Government department responsible for the environment, farming, food, rural affairs and animal welfare.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Abbreviation: DSIT
The UK Government department responsible for science, research, innovation, technology and digital policy.
Department for Transport
Abbreviation: DfT
The UK Government department responsible for transport policy in England and reserved transport matters across the UK.
Department for Work and Pensions
Abbreviation: DWP
The UK Government department responsible for welfare, pensions and employment support.
Department of Health and Social Care
Abbreviation: DHSC
The UK Government department responsible for health and adult social care policy in England.
Departmental Expenditure Limit
Abbreviation: DEL
A Treasury spending control covering planned departmental spending.
Devolution
The transfer of powers from the UK Parliament to institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Devolved Administration
A government in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland with powers transferred from Westminster.
Devolved Matter
A policy area where responsibility has been transferred to a devolved institution.
Dissolution of Parliament
The formal end of a Parliament before a general election.
Division
A formal vote in Parliament where members are counted for each side.
Division Lobby
One of the lobbies used by MPs to vote in a Commons division.
Draft Bill
A proposed bill published in draft form before being formally introduced in Parliament.
Draft Statutory Instrument
A proposed statutory instrument laid before Parliament before it is formally made.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Abbreviation: DVLA
The agency responsible for maintaining driver and vehicle records in Great Britain.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Abbreviation: DVSA
The agency responsible for driving tests, vehicle standards and roadworthiness services in Great Britain.
Education Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises education, children’s services and skills policy in England.
Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment
Abbreviation: EHCNA
The assessment process used to decide whether a child or young person needs an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Education, Health and Care Plan
Abbreviation: EHCP
A legal plan setting out support for a child or young person with special educational needs and disabilities.
Electoral Commission
Abbreviation: Electoral Commission
The independent body overseeing elections and regulating political finance in the UK.
Employment and Support Allowance
Abbreviation: ESA
A benefit for people who have limited capability for work because of illness or disability.
Enabling Power
A provision in an Act giving ministers or another body authority to make delegated legislation or take other legal action.
Environment Agency
Abbreviation: EA
The public body responsible for environmental regulation and protection in England.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Abbreviation: EFRA Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises Defra and related environmental, farming and rural policy.
Environmental Audit Committee
Abbreviation: EAC
A Commons select committee that examines environmental protection and sustainable development across government.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Abbreviation: EHRC
The equality and human rights regulator for Great Britain.
Estimates Day
A day in the Commons set aside for debates linked to government spending estimates.
European Convention on Human Rights
Abbreviation: ECHR
An international human rights treaty setting out rights and freedoms protected across member states of the Council of Europe.
Evidence Session
A committee meeting where members question witnesses as part of parliamentary scrutiny.
Executive Office
Abbreviation: TEO
A Northern Ireland Executive department supporting the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Explanatory Memorandum
A document explaining the purpose and effect of a statutory instrument or similar measure.
Explanatory Notes
Notes published with a bill to explain what its clauses mean and how it is intended to work.
Finance Bill
A bill used to give legal effect to tax changes announced by the government.
Financial Conduct Authority
Abbreviation: FCA
The regulator for financial services firms and financial markets in the UK.
Fiscal Event
A major government announcement about tax, spending, borrowing or economic policy.
Fiscal Rules
Rules or targets used by government to guide tax, spending, borrowing and debt decisions.
Food Standards Agency
Abbreviation: FSA
The public body responsible for food safety and food standards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Abbreviation: FCDO
The UK Government department responsible for foreign affairs, diplomacy, development and overseas relations.
Framework Bill
A bill that sets up a broad legal structure while leaving detailed rules to later regulations or guidance.
Free Vote
A vote where party members are not instructed to vote in a particular way.
Further Education
Abbreviation: FE
Education and training after school age that is not usually part of higher education.
Government Amendment
An amendment proposed by the government to change a bill or motion.
Government Bill
A bill introduced by the Government rather than by an individual MP or peer.
Government Defeat
A vote result in which the government loses a division or fails to secure approval for its position.
Government Response
The formal reply the government gives to a committee report or recommendation.
Grand Committee
A Lords committee setting where legislation or other business can be debated in detail without formal votes.
Green Paper
A government discussion document setting out ideas for consultation before firm policy decisions are made.
Gross Domestic Product
Abbreviation: GDP
A measure of the total value of goods and services produced in an economy.
Guillotine Motion
An older term for a motion imposing strict time limits on debate.
Hansard
The official report of what was said in Parliament.
Health and Safety Executive
Abbreviation: HSE
The regulator responsible for workplace health and safety in Great Britain.
Health and Social Care Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises health and adult social care policy in England.
Henry VIII Power
A power allowing ministers to amend or repeal provisions in an Act using delegated legislation.
Higher Education
Abbreviation: HE
Education at university level or equivalent.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service
Abbreviation: HMCTS
The executive agency responsible for administering courts and tribunals in England and Wales and some UK-wide tribunals.
HM Prison and Probation Service
Abbreviation: HMPPS
The agency responsible for prisons and probation services in England and Wales.
HM Revenue and Customs
Abbreviation: HMRC
The UK tax authority responsible for collecting taxes and administering customs and some benefits.
HM Treasury
Abbreviation: HMT
The UK Government department responsible for public finances, tax policy, spending and economic policy.
Home Affairs Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises the Home Office and related policy areas.
Home Office
Abbreviation: HO
The UK Government department responsible for immigration, policing, national security and public safety.
Homes England
The government’s housing and regeneration agency for England.
House of Commons
Abbreviation: Commons
The elected chamber of the UK Parliament, made up of Members of Parliament.
House of Lords
Abbreviation: Lords
The unelected second chamber of the UK Parliament, which scrutinises bills and government policy.
Hybrid Bill
A public bill that affects certain people or bodies in a particular way beyond the general public.
Impact Assessment
A document explaining the expected effects of a proposed policy or law.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Abbreviation: ICO
The UK regulator for data protection and freedom of information.
Integrated Care Board
Abbreviation: ICB
An NHS body responsible for planning health services for a local area in England.
Joint Committee
A committee made up of members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Joint Committee on Human Rights
Abbreviation: JCHR
A committee of MPs and peers that examines legislation and policy for compatibility with human rights standards.
Justice Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises justice policy, courts, prisons, probation and the Ministry of Justice.
Keeling Schedule
A schedule showing how amended legislation would read if changes were inserted into the existing text.
King’s Speech
The speech at the State Opening of Parliament setting out the government’s planned legislative programme.
Legislative Consent Motion
Abbreviation: LCM
A motion by a devolved legislature giving or withholding consent to Westminster legislating in a devolved area.
Liaison Committee
A committee made up of select committee chairs, known for questioning the Prime Minister.
Local Authority
Abbreviation: LA
A local government body responsible for services in a particular area.
Lords Amendment
A change to a bill made by the House of Lords.
Lords Bill
Abbreviation: HL Bill
A bill that starts in the House of Lords or is marked as a Lords bill during its passage.
Made Affirmative Procedure
A procedure allowing delegated legislation to be made and take effect before later parliamentary approval is required.
Main Estimate
The main annual request for parliamentary authorisation of departmental spending.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Abbreviation: MCA
The agency responsible for maritime safety, coastguard services and regulation of shipping standards.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Abbreviation: MHRA
The UK regulator responsible for medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion.
Member of Parliament
Abbreviation: MP
An elected representative who sits in the House of Commons.
Minister
A member of the government with responsibility for a policy area or department.
Ministry of Defence
Abbreviation: MoD
The UK Government department responsible for defence policy, the armed forces and national military security.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Abbreviation: MHCLG
The UK Government department responsible for housing, local government, communities and planning policy in England.
Ministry of Justice
Abbreviation: MoJ
The UK Government department responsible for courts, prisons, probation and justice policy in England and Wales.
Money Resolution
A Commons motion authorising public spending connected to a bill.
National Audit Office
Abbreviation: NAO
The UK public spending watchdog that supports Parliament in scrutinising value for money.
National Crime Agency
Abbreviation: NCA
The UK law enforcement agency focused on serious and organised crime.
National Health Service
Abbreviation: NHS
The publicly funded health service in the UK.
National Highways
The company responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England’s strategic road network.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Abbreviation: NICE
The body that produces guidance and advice on health and care in England.
Natural England
The public body responsible for advising on and helping protect England’s natural environment.
Negative Procedure
A process where delegated legislation becomes law unless Parliament objects within a set period.
NHS England
Abbreviation: NHSE
The body responsible for leading the NHS in England.
Noes
The votes cast against a motion or question in a parliamentary division.
Northern Ireland Assembly
The devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Office
Abbreviation: NIO
The UK Government department responsible for Northern Ireland matters that are reserved to the UK Government.
Office for Budget Responsibility
Abbreviation: OBR
The independent body that produces forecasts and analysis of the UK public finances.
Office for Environmental Protection
Abbreviation: OEP
The body that scrutinises and enforces environmental law in England and Northern Ireland.
Office for National Statistics
Abbreviation: ONS
The UK’s official statistics body, responsible for producing and publishing national statistics.
Office for Product Safety and Standards
Abbreviation: OPSS
The public body responsible for product safety and standards policy and enforcement support.
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills
Abbreviation: Ofsted
The body that inspects and regulates education, children’s services and skills provision in England.
Office for Students
Abbreviation: OfS
The independent regulator for higher education in England.
Office of Communications
Abbreviation: Ofcom
The UK regulator for communications services, broadcasting, postal services, spectrum and online services.
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
Abbreviation: Ofgem
The energy regulator for Great Britain.
Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
Abbreviation: Ofqual
The regulator of qualifications, exams and assessments in England.
Office of Rail and Road
Abbreviation: ORR
The regulator for rail safety, rail performance and parts of the strategic road network.
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
Abbreviation: Scotland Office
The UK Government department representing Scotland’s interests in the UK Government and reserved UK matters in Scotland.
Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Abbreviation: Wales Office
The UK Government department representing Wales’s interests in the UK Government and reserved UK matters in Wales.
Opposition Day Debate
A debate chosen by an opposition party rather than by the government.
Oral Evidence
Evidence given by witnesses speaking directly to a parliamentary committee.
Oral Question
A question asked aloud in the chamber, with a minister answering in person.
Oral Statement
A spoken statement made by a minister in the chamber, followed by questions from members.
Order in Council
A type of legal instrument formally made through the Privy Council.
Order Paper
The official list of business scheduled for a sitting day in Parliament.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A junior ministerial rank within a government department.
Payment Systems Regulator
Abbreviation: PSR
The regulator for payment systems in the UK.
Peer
A member of the House of Lords.
Personal Independence Payment
Abbreviation: PIP
A benefit for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities who need help with daily living or mobility costs.
Petition
A formal request asking Parliament or one of its Houses to take action or consider an issue.
Petitioner
A person or body that submits a petition to Parliament.
Ping-pong
The stage when a bill moves between the Commons and Lords as they try to agree on amendments.
Prayer Motion
A motion used to seek the annulment of a statutory instrument laid under the negative procedure.
Pre-legislative Scrutiny
The examination of a draft bill before it is formally introduced into Parliament.
Prime Minister
Abbreviation: PM
The head of the UK Government.
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Abbreviation: No. 10
The office supporting the Prime Minister and issuing official statements from 10 Downing Street.
Private Member’s Bill
A bill introduced by an MP or peer who is not acting on behalf of the government.
Privy Council
A formal body that advises the monarch and handles certain constitutional and legal functions.
Procedure Committee
A Commons select committee that examines House of Commons procedure and practice.
Programme Motion
A motion that sets the timetable for a bill’s progress through the House of Commons.
Prorogation
The formal end of a parliamentary session.
Prudential Regulation Authority
Abbreviation: PRA
The Bank of England body responsible for prudential regulation of banks, insurers and major investment firms.
Public Accounts Committee
Abbreviation: PAC
A Commons select committee that examines public spending and value for money.
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Abbreviation: PACAC
A Commons select committee that scrutinises constitutional issues and public administration.
Public Bill Committee
A Commons committee that examines most bills in detail after Second Reading.
Public Expenditure
Money spent by government and public bodies.
Public Sector Net Borrowing
Abbreviation: PSNB
A measure of how much the public sector borrows over a period.
Reasoned Amendment
An amendment that sets out reasons for opposing a bill, often at Second Reading.
Report Stage
The stage after committee scrutiny when the whole House can consider and vote on further amendments.
Reserved Matter
A policy area that remains the responsibility of the UK Parliament and UK Government under a devolution settlement.
Retail Prices Index
Abbreviation: RPI
An older measure of inflation that is still used in some contracts and uprating calculations.
Review Clause
A provision requiring a law or power to be reviewed after a certain period or in certain circumstances.
Royal Assent
The formal approval required for a bill to become an Act of Parliament.
Royal Prerogative
Executive powers that historically belong to the Crown and are now usually exercised by ministers.
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Abbreviation: SITC
A Commons select committee that scrutinises science, research, innovation and technology policy.
Scottish Government
The devolved government for Scotland.
Scottish Parliament
The devolved legislature for Scotland.
Second Reading
The stage where Parliament debates the main principles and purpose of a bill.
Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee
Abbreviation: SLSC
A House of Lords committee that examines secondary legislation and draws important instruments to the House’s attention.
Secretary of State
A senior government minister, usually responsible for a government department.
Select Committee
A cross-party committee that examines the work of government departments, public bodies, or specific issues.
Select Committee Inquiry
A formal investigation by a select committee into a topic, department, or public issue.
Senedd Cymru
Abbreviation: Senedd
The devolved legislature for Wales.
Session
The period during which Parliament conducts business between one State Opening and the next.
Sessional Order
An order made for the duration of a parliamentary session.
Sewel Convention
A constitutional convention about Westminster legislating on devolved matters.
Shadow Minister
An opposition frontbench spokesperson who scrutinises a government minister or policy area.
Skeleton Bill
A bill containing broad principles but leaving much of the detail to be filled in later by delegated legislation.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
Abbreviation: SME
A business below a certain size, often used in policy about smaller firms.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Abbreviation: SEND
Support needs affecting a child or young person’s learning, development, health or access to education.
Special Report
A committee report published for a specific purpose, often to respond to government replies or present particular material.
Spending Review
A government process setting departmental spending plans over a future period.
Spring Statement
A fiscal statement usually delivered by the Chancellor outside the main Budget.
Standing Order
A formal rule governing how Parliament or one of its Houses conducts business.
Statutory Consultation
A consultation that the law requires to take place before a decision, regulation, or other action is taken.
Statutory Guidance
Official guidance issued under legal authority, which public bodies may be required to follow or take into account.
Statutory Instrument
Abbreviation: SI
A form of secondary legislation made under powers granted by an Act of Parliament.
Statutory Instrument Committee
A general term for a committee arrangement used to consider statutory instruments.
Sunset Clause
A provision causing part of a law to expire automatically at a set time unless renewed.
Super-affirmative Procedure
An enhanced scrutiny procedure giving Parliament more time and opportunity to consider delegated legislation before approval.
Supplementary Estimate
An in-year request to change the amount or purpose of spending already authorised by Parliament.
Supply Estimate
A document asking Parliament to authorise government spending for a department or service.
Tellers
Members who count votes during a division in Parliament.
Ten Minute Rule Bill
A type of Private Member’s Bill introduced after a short speech seeking the House’s leave.
The Pensions Regulator
Abbreviation: TPR
The UK regulator for workplace pension schemes.
Third Reading
The final stage in one House, where members debate the bill in its near-final form.
Three-line Whip
A strong party instruction requiring members to attend and vote in a particular way.
Transport Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises transport policy and the Department for Transport.
Treasury Committee
A Commons select committee that scrutinises HM Treasury, tax, public finances and financial regulation.
UK Health Security Agency
Abbreviation: UKHSA
The UK agency responsible for protecting public health from infectious diseases and other health threats.
UK Visas and Immigration
Abbreviation: UKVI
The Home Office body responsible for visas, immigration applications and related services.
Universal Credit
Abbreviation: UC
A working-age benefit that brings together several forms of income-related support.
Urgent Question
Abbreviation: UQ
A question allowed at short notice so a minister must come to the House and answer on an urgent matter.
Votes and Proceedings
The official Commons record of decisions and proceedings for a sitting day.
Water Services Regulation Authority
Abbreviation: Ofwat
The economic regulator for the water and wastewater sector in England and Wales.
Ways and Means Resolution
A Commons motion authorising tax or charge provisions connected to a bill.
Welsh Government
The devolved government for Wales.
Whip
A party official responsible for organising party discipline and voting in Parliament.
White Paper
A government policy document setting out more definite proposals or plans for future action.
Written Evidence
Evidence submitted in writing to a parliamentary committee or inquiry.
Written Ministerial Statement
A formal written statement by a minister to Parliament, usually used to announce decisions or provide official information.
Written Question
A question submitted in writing to a minister, with the answer given in writing.