MPs' Guide to Procedure

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find guidance on temporary procedures during the pandemic including voting, questions and statements. Members can find detailed guidance on participating virtually and voting on the Parliamentary intranet (please note: this link will only work if you have a parliamentary email account.)

Timings of debates on a substantive motion

Start times for debates on substantive motions are not fixed and depend on the business to be done before the debate begins, including Question Time, and any urgent questions or oral statements.

Debates on substantive motions will usually be for a fixed time (either a set number of hours or until the usual finish time for main business, which is 10pm on a Monday, 7pm on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or 5pm on a Thursday).