Scotland was an independent country until the 1707 Acts of Union, which united Scotland with England (and Wales) in the Kingdom of Great Britain.Read More

Statements are normally delivered first to the Commons at about 12.30pm. They are repeated to the Lords by a relevant Minister at a convenient time after that. The Minister reads out the text of the statement made to the Commons. Opposition spokespersons then make speeches in response to which the Minister responds. Brief questions from...Read More

Lords Select Committees tend to be set up to consider issues that cut across government departments, which means that they rarely overlap with the departmental select committees of the Lower House. Examples of such Lords Select Committees are the Economic Affairs, Constitution and Delegated Powers Committees. The biggest committee is the Select Committee on the...Read More

Starred questions are questions for oral answer by Ministers. They are called 'Starred Questions' because they appear next to a star on the order paper. They can be tabled by any peer for the calendar month before the time specified for answer up to 24 hours before that time. In practice several weeks' notice is...Read More

Before the 1999 House of Lords Act, the Conservatives had a large in-built majority in the House. The problem of the Lords being able to veto all government legislation if it was so minded is covered by the so-called Salisbury convention. The convention (sometimes called the 'Salisbury doctrine') states that the Lords will not vote...Read More

In the UK, people commonly smoke cigarettes, cigars and pipes. Read More

When Parliament is sitting, the Lords normally meets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2.30pm and on Thursdays at 11.30am. The House does not always sit on a Friday but when it does it meets at 11am. There is no time limit on proceedings, but business is normally concluded a little later than 10pm (normally...Read More

A debate on the Second Reading of a Bill is a debate on its general principles (on the motion 'that the Bill be now read a Second time'). It is normally at least two weeks after introduction. The peer in charge of the Bill opens the debate by outlining the Bill's provision and making the...Read More

Sexual health refers to a raft of topics relating to gynaecology and urinary medicine (GUM), reproduction and family health and sex and relationship education. Read More

There are two types of select committee – departmental and non-departmental. The departmental select committees are charged with examining the spending, administration and policy of their specific department and its related public bodies. They may take evidence from witnesses and require the submission of documents within certain rules and they may set up sub-committees to...Read More

The Scottish parliament was created under the Scotland Act 1998, and the powers were formally transferred from London to Edinburgh on July 1st 1999. The 129 MSPs have the authority to initiate and pass primary legislation and vary the basic rate of income tax by up to three pence in the pound from the UK-wide...Read More

Secondary legislation makes changes to the law under powers in an Act of Parliament. During the passage of a Bill, Parliament agrees to any such powers to make future changes to the law. Secondary legislation cannot normally amend primary legislation. It tends to 'flesh out' Acts with more detail and it is more easily revised,...Read More

'There shall be a Scottish parliament' Scotland Act 1998, section 1(1)Read More

The Committee Stage of a Bill normally takes place in a Standing Committee. A new Standing Committee is set up for each Bill, although there are normally no more than eight at one time. Even though the membership is different each time a Standing Committee is set up, they are always given the names Standing...Read More

The smoking ban came into force in Scotland on March 26th 2006. In Wales, it was enforced from April 2nd. In Northern Ireland, the ban came into effect on April 30th. England followed suit on July 1st 2007, with the entire UK now officially smoke-free in public places.Read More

A debate on the Second Reading of a Bill is a debate on its general principles (on the motion 'that the Bill be now read a Second time). It is normally at least two weeks after introduction. The MP in charge of the Bill opens the debate by outlining the Bill's provision and making the...Read More

The State Opening, with all its pageantry and pomp, marks the beginning of a new Parliamentary Session. The monarch comes to the Palace of Westminster and announces the Government’s legislative programme for the coming Session to dignitaries and peers in all their finery and to MPs called to the House of Lords for the occasion....Read More

By convention, the House expects to be the first to be informed of important issues, including new government policy announcements and updates on developing situations. Ministers will, therefore, often address the House in a statement. Statements normally follow oral questions, but, with the agreement of the Speaker, can take place at any time. Depending on...Read More

"Speed cameras" is the common name given to safety cameras operated by local police forces as a means of enforcing speed limits on dangerous roads. Safety cameras are also used to enforce traffic signals, by photographing vehicles driving through red lights.Read More