The House of Commons was sitting last week and again this week. It has been busy with the Second Readings of the Government’s two major constitutional measures (the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill and the Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill). The House of Lords is not sitting, but the fact that MPs are in session has…
The House of Commons rose for the summer recess on Tuesday and the House of Lords on Wednesday. By the end of Wednesday, after the House had risen, there was still a good deal of activity. The Despatch Box (the snack bar) in the Atrium in Portcullis House was well patronised. The giveaway that we…
The summer recess is an opportunity to undertake repairs and refurbishment in the Palace. Over the summer, there has been a substantial workforce in to undertake about twenty different projects. These have included essential repairs and maintenance as well as the beginning of what appears to be a rolling programme of roof replacement. Various corridors…
In the Palace of Westminster, the committee corridor (pictured) has been at the hub of committee activity, though it now has competition. The corridor is remarkable for being a long, unbroken corridor running the length of much of the Palace. It has sixteen committee rooms overlooking the Thames. Committee Room 14 is the largest and…
Both Houses are now in recess, though one would not necessarily know that given the work that is still going on. It will become quieter as we go further into recess, but today the Palace remains a hive of activity. The Despatch Box is still in considerable use, albeit not in either chamber. Despatch Box is the name of…
