End of the 2017-19 Parliament
8 October 2019
The 2017–19 Parliamentary session has been brought to a close with a 'prorogation' announcement on Tuesday 8 October 2019.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords will next sit for the State Opening of Parliament on Monday 14 October 2019.
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript: Royal Commission, Royal Assent and Prorogation: Her Majesty's Speech.
What is prorogation?
Prorogation marks the formal end of the Parliamentary session. It usually takes the form of an announcement, read on behalf of the Queen, in the House of Lords chamber.
About the prorogation announcement
The announcement lists the major pieces of legislation passed during the session and also describes other measures taken by the government during the Parliamentary year.
Once it has been read in the Lords, the same announcement is repeated by the Speaker in the House of Commons.
New legislation
The following Bills received Royal Assent on Tuesday 8 October 2019.
- Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019
- Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Act 2019
What happens next?
State Opening
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Monday 14 October 2019.
The State Opening of Parliament marks the formal start of the parliamentary year and the Queen's Speech sets out the government's agenda for the coming session, outlining proposed policies and legislation. It is the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament – the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons – meet.
Image: Parliamentary copyright