Order of Business - Project Open Gov

The order in which parliamentary business is scheduled to be taken.

Category: Parliamentary documents and sources Parliamentary procedure

Also used as: order of business, business of the House, daily order of business

Source / explainer: Read the UK Parliament glossary entry on the Order Paper

Last reviewed: 21 August 2026

The Order of Business is the sequence in which parliamentary items are scheduled to be taken. In the Commons, the Order Paper is also known as the Order of Business. The term helps readers understand how questions, statements, motions, bills and other business are arranged during a sitting day.

Related terms

Business StatementA statement setting out forthcoming parliamentary business and scheduling.Commons Business PapersThe official daily papers showing House of Commons business, including the Order Paper and related documents.Lords BusinessThe official House of Lords business papers and documents for a sitting day.Order PaperThe official list of business scheduled for a sitting day in Parliament.