Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Amendment Paper
A parliamentary paper listing amendments tabled to a bill or motion.
Annunciator
The parliamentary system that displays live information about current business in the Commons and Lords.
Bill Documents
The documents published alongside or during the passage of a bill.
Bills before Parliament
The official UK Parliament service for tracking bills currently or recently before Parliament.
Business Appointment Rules
Abbreviation: BARs
Rules applying when former ministers, civil servants and some Crown servants take up roles after leaving office.
Business Papers
Parliamentary papers that set out the business scheduled or recorded for a House.
Business Statement
A statement setting out forthcoming parliamentary business and scheduling.
Business Today
The part of the Commons Order Paper showing business scheduled for the current sitting day.
Call for Evidence
An invitation for written submissions to help inform a committee inquiry or review.
Command Paper
Abbreviation: CP
A government paper formally presented to Parliament.
Committee Report
A published report setting out a parliamentary committee’s findings and recommendations.
Commons Business Papers
The official daily papers showing House of Commons business, including the Order Paper and related documents.
Commons Journal
The official permanent record of decisions and proceedings in the House of Commons.
Commons Library
The House of Commons research service that publishes impartial briefings for MPs and the public.
Deposited Paper
A document placed in the Library of either House, often by a minister in response to a parliamentary question.
Division Number
An official reference number used to identify a recorded parliamentary division.
Donations and Other Support
Financial or material support received by an MP for activities as a Member of Parliament.
E-petition
An online petition submitted through the UK Government and Parliament petitions website.
Early Day Motion
Abbreviation: EDM
A formal motion tabled in the House of Commons, often used to draw attention to an issue or gather support from MPs.
Erskine May
The authoritative reference work on UK parliamentary law, privileges, proceedings and usage.
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.
Family Members Employed
A register category covering certain family members employed and paid through parliamentary expenses.
Family Members Engaged in Lobbying
A register category covering certain family members whose work involves lobbying.
Forthcoming Business
Business expected to be considered by Parliament on future sitting days.
Future Business
Parliamentary business scheduled or provisionally listed for later sitting days.
Future Day Orals
A Commons business paper listing oral questions tabled for future days.
Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources.
GOV.UK
The main official website for UK Government information and services.
Government Response
The formal reply the government gives to a committee report or recommendation.
Green Paper
A government discussion document setting out ideas for consultation before firm policy decisions are made.
Guide to the Rules
The detailed guide explaining how MPs should comply with the House of Commons Code of Conduct.
Hansard
The official report of what was said in Parliament.
Impact Assessment
A document explaining the expected effects of a proposed policy or law.
Laid Paper
A document that has been formally laid before Parliament.
Land and Property Interests
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering certain land and property holdings or income.
legislation.gov.uk
The official online source for UK legislation, managed by The National Archives.
List of Ministers’ Interests
A published statement of relevant interests of government ministers.
Lords Business
The official House of Lords business papers and documents for a sitting day.
Lords Journal
The official permanent record of decisions and proceedings in the House of Lords.
Lords Library
The House of Lords research service that publishes impartial briefings for Lords business.
Lords Minutes
The daily record of proceedings and decisions in the House of Lords.
Manuscript Amendment
An amendment submitted too late to appear on the amendment paper but considered only if selected by the chair.
Marshalled List
A list of amendments arranged in the order in which they relate to a bill or are expected to be considered.
Ministerial Correction
A correction made by a minister to information previously given to Parliament.
MPs’ Business Costs
The costs funded through IPSA to support MPs in carrying out parliamentary functions.
MPs’ Guide to Procedure
An official guide explaining House of Commons procedure for MPs and their staff.
Notice Paper
A parliamentary paper giving notice of future business, questions, amendments or motions.
Official Report
The formal edited report of parliamentary debates, commonly known as Hansard.
Oral Evidence
Evidence given by witnesses speaking directly to a parliamentary committee.
Order of Business
The order in which parliamentary business is scheduled to be taken.
Order of Oral Questions
The rota and order for departments to answer oral questions in the Commons.
Order Paper
The official list of business scheduled for a sitting day in Parliament.
Paper Laid Before Parliament
A document formally presented to Parliament, often because legislation or procedure requires it.
Parliament Now
The UK Parliament service showing live information from the parliamentary annunciator system.
Parliament TV
The official live and archived video service for public UK Parliament proceedings.
Parliamentary Calendar
A public schedule showing when Parliament is sitting and what business is planned.
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Abbreviation: POST
The UK Parliament office that produces impartial research on science and technology policy issues.
Parliamentary Paper
A paper formally published by, presented to, or ordered by one of the Houses of Parliament.
POSTnote
A short impartial briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.
Private Business
Parliamentary business relating to private bills or other matters affecting specific interests.
Provisional Business
Business listed in advance but still subject to change.
Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups
The authoritative list of All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
Register of Consultant Lobbyists
The statutory register for consultant lobbyists lobbying UK Government ministers or permanent secretaries on behalf of clients.
Register of Members’ Financial Interests
The public register showing MPs’ relevant financial interests and benefits.
Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests
The official who gives advice on the MPs’ register and supports the registration of Members’ interests.
Remaining Orders
Commons business that has not yet been scheduled for a specific date.
Research Briefing
An impartial parliamentary research publication explaining an issue, bill, debate or policy area.
Special Report
A committee report published for a specific purpose, often to respond to government replies or present particular material.
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.
Treaty
A formal international agreement between states or international organisations.
Treaty Scrutiny
Parliamentary examination of treaties before the UK Government ratifies them.
Treaty Tracker
The UK Parliament service for finding treaties laid before Parliament.
UK Parliament
The institution made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Crown.
Visits Outside the UK
A category of MPs’ financial interests covering certain overseas visits funded by others.
Votes and Proceedings
The official Commons record of decisions and proceedings for a sitting day.
Votes in Parliament
The official UK Parliament service for finding House of Commons and House of Lords division results.
What’s on in Parliament
The UK Parliament service showing scheduled Commons and Lords business.
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.
Written Statement
A written statement by a minister placed on the parliamentary record.