House of Commons Recess Dates

The House of Commons of the United Kingdom has various recesses during the year.

All of the recess dates are usually announced/confirmed in the House of Commons by the Leader of the House of Commons. The precise pattern of recesses can change, and is normally slightly different for the two Houses.

During a recess, Members of Parliament (MPs) can spend more time in their constituency, talk to their constituents, and contemplate about what they are going to do to solve any problems that their constituents raise (for example, they may start to prepare speeches, which they will read to the Minister concerned when the house returns, and the recess ends).

The recess dates may be changed at any time, and during the recess; if required, the Speaker of the House of Commons can call all Houses back.

An example of the Speaker calling the House of Commons back, was on Wednesday 10 April 2013, when the House was called back to pay tributes to Baroness Thatcher.

The Speaker can call the House of Commons back, both during recesses, and also during Weekends if necessary (as the House does not normally sit during recesses, or weekends).

A motion making changing to recess dates, was agreed on 2 December 2013. The session in which a recess falls is subject to change.[lower-roman 1][lower-roman 2][lower-roman 3]

Recess Dates: 2015 – 2016 Session

(The Leader of the House of Commons announced the recess dates up to February 2016 in the Business Statement given on Thursday 28 May 2015, following the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 27 May 2015).[1]

This is following the Conservative Majority at the General Election 2015. Speaker of the House Of Commons for 2015-2020: John Bercow MP.

General Election 2015: 7 May 2015
Recess House rises House returns
Summer 21 July 2015 7 September 2015
Conference 17 September 2015 12 October 2015
November 10 November 2015 16 November 2015
Christmas 17 December 2015 5 January 2016
February 11 February 2016 22 February 2016
Easter 24 March 2016 11 April 2016
State Opening: Wednesday 27 May 2015

Recess Dates: 2014 – 2015 Session

(Recess dates up to January 2015 were announced by the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in the Business Statement, which was given on 24 October 2013).

Recess House rises House returns
Whitsun 22 May 2014 2 June 2014
Summer 22 July 2014 1 September 2014
Conference 11 September 2014 13 October 2014
November 11 November 2014 17 November 2014
Christmas 18 December 2014 5 January 2015
State Opening: 4 June 2014
Dissolution of Parliament: 30 March 2015
General Election 2015: 7 May 2015

[2]

Following the dissolution of Parliament, it should be noted that there are no MPs until after the General Election on May 7, 2015. Parliament is NOT sitting but this does not affect the Government or Ministerial Departments – each Minister is still head of his/her respective department, until Her Majesty the Queen appoints a new Government following the General election, although if the Conservative Party wins, then it is likely that many of the Conservative ministers in the present government will retain their post.

Recess Dates: 2013 – 2014 Session

Recess House Rises House Returns
Whitsun 21 May 2013 3 June 2013
Summer 18 July 2013 2 September 2013
Conference 13 September 2013 8 October 2013
November 12 November 2013 18 November 2013
Christmas 19 December 2013 6 January 2014
February 13 February 2014 24 February 2014
Easter 10 April 2014 28 April 2014
May Day 1 May 2014 6 May 2014
State Opening: 8 May 2013
Recall: 29 August 2013

[2]

Recess dates: 2012–2013 session

Recess House rises House returns
Whitsun 24 May 2012 11 June 2012
Summer 17 July 2012 3 September 2012
Conference 18 September 2012 15 October 2012
Autumn 13 November 2012 19 November 2012
Christmas 20 December 2012 7 January 2013
State Opening: 9 May 2012

[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Note: Recess dates may be provisional.
  2. ↑ To check the latest recess dates for the House of Commons, please visit the House of Commons Recess Dates on the UK Parliament’s official website.
  3. ↑ To check the Recess dates for the House of Lords, please visit The House of Lords Recess Dates on the UK Parliament's Official Website.

References

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