Sittings (Lords)

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 earlier on Thursdays and Fridays). On Thursdays there is a break for lunch, during which no business is taken. The House always breaks for dinner at around 7pm, during which time a short debate will take place.

The following is a guide to normal recess dates, which are always subject to the progress of business:

Christmas and New Year/Winter festivals - normally the last two weeks in December and the first week in January
Easter - normally two weeks around Easter
Whitsun - normally a week at the end of May
Summer - normally about seven weeks from mid-July to the first week in September
Conference - normally two weeks in late September/early October

There is always a brief recess prior to the State Opening of Parliament after prorogation. It normally lasts about a week.