Guide to Parliamentary Work

1. How to use this guide

1.1 This Guide has been prepared by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, with the advice of the Office of the Leader of the House of Lords, departmental Parliamentary Clerks and officials of the House of Commons. It is produced in line with the objectives of the Parliamentary Clerks Working Group, established in 2002, and whose terms of reference include promoting and monitoring best practice for Parliamentary sections within Whitehall.

1.2 This Guide brings together information published by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, and other relevant guidance material to assist officials, whose work requires knowledge of Parliament and its procedures.

1.3 Although the guide is compiled mainly for Parliamentary Clerks and others who work within Parliamentary sections in mind, it provides useful information for those who work with Ministers or have to provide advice with a parliamentary context. We hope it is comprehensive and will cover the most commonly asked questions, but it should not be regarded as the authoritative statement of Parliamentary practice.

1.4 The Guide is set out in discreet chapters which can be read as a whole as an introduction for those new to Parliamentary work. However, it is also designed to enable more experienced officials to consult quickly when dealing with specific issues. Hyperlinks are used throughout the document to direct the user to other relevant material or sources of advice.

1.5 This Guide does not cover:

• Legislation (see the 'Guide to Making Legislation' produced by the Legislation Secretariat)
• Secondary Legislation (see guidance on 'Statutory Instrument Practice' [External website])
• Europe (Guidance on the Parliamentary Scrutiny of European Union Documents is available from the European and Global Issues Secretariat GSI site)

1.6 This electronic version of the guide will be reviewed at least annually and where necessary updated or corrected to reflect changes in Parliamentary procedure. While the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons will make every effort to alert officials to relevant changes in procedure, it is best to refer back to the online version as and when required, to ensure the most up to date information is being used. Corrections and suggestions on this guide are welcome and should be sent to mike.winter@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk and leader@commonsleader.x.gsi.gov.uk.