Debates and voting

Marek Kubala

Clerk of Divisions, Public Bill Office, House of Commons

Debates

• All debates take place on a Motion• Motion is “a proposal made for the

purpose of eliciting a decision of the House” (Erskine May chapter 21).

• Gives rise to a question for decision• “A Member’s speech must be directed to

the question under discussion or to the motion or amendment intended to be moved.”

Order of debate

Motion moved by Whip, Minister or signatory

Question proposed by Chair

Debate takes place

Question put by Chair

Question decided by division, by voice or on the nod

Once the question has been proposed by the Chair, the House is in possession of that question: it must be disposed of before the House can proceed with any other business, and it can only be withdrawn by leave of the House.

Questions that are agreed to become either orders or resolutions of the House.

Different types of debate• Motions for debate can originate with

– Government– Opposition– Backbenchers– Backbench Business Committee

Government debates

• Motion moved by Minister• General debate – “That this House has

considered the matter of […]”• Sometimes have a vote• Very rarely happen now• Motion for an Address

Opposition debates

• 20 Opposition Days in each session (SO 14) – 17 Labour, 3 other parties

• Often two separate subjects in a day• Amendments can be tabled, usually by the

Government• Vote on original motion before amendment

Emergency debates (S.O. 24)

• Any non-Government Member can apply• Speaker makes decision• No longer than three hours• Usually takes place next day

Backbench business debates

• New innovation since 2010• Backbench Business Committee• Allocate 35 days each session in House

and Westminster Hall (27 in Chamber)• Take bids from backbench Members• E-petitions via the Petitions Committee

Adjournment debates

• 30 minute debate at end of day• Any non-Government Member can bid for

a debate• Often on constituency matters• Sometimes debate is only between the

Member and the Minister

Rules and courtesies of debate (1)

• Members let Chair know they wish to speak

• Sometimes time limit on speeches• Mover of motion first and usually wraps up• Minister always speaks towards the end• Can intervene on speech but only if

speaker gives way

Rules and courtesies of debate (2)

• Address House through Chair• Parliamentary language• Dress

Decisions, Votes and Divisions

• When a debate is concluded, the Question on the Motion must be put

• Speaker ‘collects the voices’ and gives his view of the sense of the House

• If challenged, a division occurs • Many decisions are agreed without

division

Divisions• Speaker orders ‘Clear the Lobby’• Bells ring all over the Parliamentary Estate• ‘Tellers’ are appointed (two per side)• Division clerks take their places (3 per

Lobby)• Members enter the Aye or No Lobby, give

their names to a Clerk and are counted as they leave

• Doors are open for 8 minutes• Whole process takes 10 – 15 minutes

Division Lobby

Announcement of result

Divisions: continued• If fewer than 35 vote, the division is invalid

(SO No. 41 says 40 must take part, and Speaker and tellers are counted)

• Members can vote in both Lobbies• ‘Nodding through’ of incapacitated

Members who are on the premises• ‘Pairing’ of Members• Speaker has casting vote if there is a tie:

guided by principles and precedent• ‘English votes for English laws’

Deferred Divisions• Introduced in 2000 to provide more certainty

about the time of rising by reducing number of votes after the ‘moment of interruption’

• Decisions (with some exceptions, particularly on legislation) challenged after that moment are deferred to the following Wednesday from 12.30 to 2.00 pm

• At that time, Members hand in voting forms in the No Lobby

• The votes are counted elsewhere• The results are announced to the House later

in the day