Guides

'There shall be a Scottish parliament' Scotland Act 1998, section 1(1) The Scottish parliament has the authority to initiate and pass primary legislation and to vary the basic rate of income tax by up to three pence in the pound from the UK-wide rate. The transfer of powers from London to Edinburgh took place on...Read More

The National Assembly for Wales (the Welsh Assembly) has the authority to pass secondary legislation affecting Wales as well as executive powers over the implementation of UK laws in Wales. It is not a parliament in the strictest sense of the word, as it cannot pass primary legislation or raise taxes, but it does debate...Read More

When Parliament is sitting, the Commons normally meets on Mondays at 2.30pm and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11.30pm. Fridays are normally reserved for constituency business except on allotted days for the consideration of private members' Bills. On these days, business starts at 9.30am. The length of the day is governed by the 'Moment...Read More

Learn about the processes, procedures and arrangements MPs and politicians are expected to adhere to in the House. Here you will find a guide to the House including language, address, seating arrangements, order and points of order in the House of Commons. To find out more on this issue click through our guide to the...Read More

Learn about the language, address and seating arrangements Lords are expected to follow in the House. Our guide to the House provides information on how peers are expected to refer to each other and the Commons as well as the language they use and seating arrangements they follow in the House. To find out more...Read More

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-' preamble to all Acts of Parliament It is the settled constitutional position of the United Kingdom that...Read More

'BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-' preamble to all Acts of Parliament It is the settled constitutional position of the United Kingdom that...Read More