Sitting Day - Project Open Gov

A day on which a House of Parliament meets to conduct business.

Also used as: sitting day, sitting days, parliamentary sitting day, sitting days in Parliament

Source / explainer: Read the MPs’ Guide to Procedure on timings

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026

A sitting day is a day when a House of Parliament meets to conduct business. Sitting days may include debates, questions, statements, bill stages, votes and other formal proceedings. The term is important for calendars, summaries and automation because many parliamentary sources behave differently on sitting and non-sitting days.

Related terms

Business TodayThe part of the Commons Order Paper showing business scheduled for the current sitting day.Order PaperThe official list of business scheduled for a sitting day in Parliament.Parliamentary CalendarA public schedule showing when Parliament is sitting and what business is planned.Question TimeThe period in a sitting when ministers answer oral questions from MPs or peers.SittingA meeting of either House of Parliament, or of a committee.