Parliament has today prorogued meaning that the 2015-16 legislative session is officially closed.
The 2016/17 session of Parliament will commence on Wednesday 18th May 2016 with the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen’s Speech.
The 2015/16 Parliamentary session was a busy one with a number of important Acts passed including the Childcare Act 2016, Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 and the Education Act 2016.
When Parliament resumes on 18th May HM the Queen will set out the areas that the Government will legislate on. This is expected to include bills on academies, higher education, prisons, digital economy and planning.
Commenting, Lucy Allan MP said: “The past year has had a packed legislative agenda and the Government has been delivering on its election promises and introducing new legislation that will benefit hard working people, including: 30 hours of free childcare, three million new apprenticeships, and an EU referendum. The tax cuts have started to come into effect, the new National Living Wage is helping reward work, and the elderly have received the biggest increase in the state pension for over a decade.
“This was just the first year of five year term that the Government has and I look forward to seeing more of these manifesto commitments enacted. I am particularly pleased by this Government's commitment to life chances and opportunity for all."
The Prorogation ceremony
The formal ceremony of prorogation begins in the House of Lords with an announcement read by the Leader of the Lords on behalf of the Queen. A Royal Commission consisting of five Peers - dressed in their robes - and all Privy Councillors, then instruct Black Rod to request the presence of the House of Commons.
When the Commons arrive, the Royal Commission and representatives of the Commons ceremonially greet each other: the Lords doff their hats three times and the Members and officials of the Commons bow in return. The Leader of the Lords will then read a short statement followed by a clerk of the House of Lords who will read the Royal Commission. Clerks will then announce each Act passed during the session, declaring 'La Reyne le veult' - Norman French for 'The Queen wishes it.' After all bills have been announced, the Leader of the Lords reads the prorogation speech on behalf of the Queen.
The Speaker then returns to the Commons and repeats the list of the Acts passed and the message that Parliament is prorogued. MPs then file past the Speaker and shake his hand. Following this, the House is officially prorogued and the Commons will not meet again until the state opening of Parliament on 18 May 2016.