Glossary

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.