UK Parliament — House of Commons

Unless the House otherwise direct-

Until Easter government business shall have precedence at every sitting except the sitting on Wednesday and the sitting on Friday; and at the sitting on Wednesday notices of motion and public bills, other than government bills, shall have precedence of government business, and notices of motions shall have precedence of the orders of the day;

After Easter government business shall have precedence at all sittings, except the sittings on the first, second, third and fourth Fridays after Easter Day and the sittings on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth Fridays after Whit Sunday;

At the sittings on Wednesday, when government business has not precedence, Mr. Speaker shall at half-past seven of the clock, if the first motion (other than a motion for the adjournment of the House made after the commencement of public business) has not been disposed of, proceed to interrupt the proceedings thereon and such business shall be disposed of as if it were business interrupted at eleven of the clock under Standing Order No. 1;

At the sittings on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the House will first proceed with unopposed private business, petitions, motions for unopposed returns, and leave of absence to members, and ballots for notices of motions.

In the case of a session beginning between Easter and Christmas the following modifications of paragraph (1) of this Standing Order shall have effect:-

Government business shall have precedence on as many Wednesdays immediately before Good Friday as the number of Wednesdays before Christmas on which it has not had precedence, and on as many Fridays immediately before Good Friday as the number of Fridays (reduced by three) on which it had not precedence before Christmas;

After Easter government business shall have precedence at all sittings except the sittings on the second, third, fourth, and fifth Fridays after Easter Day;

Standing Order No. 4 shall come into force and have effect after Easter, instead of after Whitsuntide.

Unless the house otherwise direct-

(a.) Government business shall have precedence at every sitting except the evening sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday and the sitting on Friday;

(b.) At the evening sittings of Tuesday and Wednesday notices of motion and public bills, other than government bills, shall have precedence of government business;

(c.) After Easter government business shall have precedence at the evening sittings of Tuesday;

(d.) After Whitsuntide, until Michaelmas, government business shall have precedence at all evening sittings, and at all Friday sittings except the sittings on the third and fourth Fridays after Whit Sunday;

(e.) At the evening sittings at which government business has not precedence notices of motion shall have precedence of the orders of the day;

(f.) At all afternoon sittings the house will first proceed with petitions, motions for unopposed returns, and leave of absence to members, giving notices of motions, and unopposed private business.