Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Paid Advocacy
A broad term for using a public position to promote an outside interest in return for payment or reward.
Paid Parliamentary Advice
A prohibited arrangement where an MP provides paid advice on parliamentary strategy, procedure or influence.
Pairing
An arrangement where two MPs from opposing sides agree not to vote so their absences balance out.
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.
Parliamentary Calendar
A public schedule showing when Parliament is sitting and what business is planned.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Abbreviation: PCS
The independent House of Commons officer responsible for monitoring the Code of Conduct and registers.
Parliamentary Privilege
The rights and protections Parliament needs to carry out its work effectively.
Parliamentary Timetable
The planned order and timing of parliamentary business.
Periodic Adjournment
The formal procedural term for a recess.
Personal Statement
A short statement made by an MP or peer with permission, often to correct or explain a personal matter.
Petition
A formal request asking Parliament or one of its Houses to take action or consider an issue.
Petition Debate
A Westminster Hall debate on issues raised by one or more petitions.
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’s Questions
Abbreviation: PMQs
The weekly Commons session in which the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs.
Private Bill
A bill that would change the law for specific individuals, organisations or localities rather than the general public.
Private Business
Parliamentary business relating to private bills or other matters affecting specific interests.
Private Member’s Bill
A bill introduced by an MP or peer who is not acting on behalf of the government.
Privilege Motion
A motion connected to parliamentary privilege, standards or possible contempt of Parliament.
Procedural Motion
A motion about how parliamentary business should be handled, rather than the substantive policy question itself.
Programme Motion
A motion that sets the timetable for a bill’s progress through the House of Commons.
Provisional Business
Business listed in advance but still subject to change.
Public Bill
A bill that would change the law as it applies to the general public.
Public Bill Committee
A Commons committee that examines most bills in detail after Second Reading.
Public Bill Committee Sitting
Abbreviation: PBC sitting
A meeting of a Public Bill Committee to examine a bill in detail.
Public Petition
A paper petition presented to the House of Commons by an MP.