Parliament's working year comes to a close: 2019-21 session ends
29 April 2021 (updated on 29 April 2021)
Parliament's 2019–21 session has been brought to a close with a 'prorogation' announcement on Thursday 29 April 2021.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords will next sit for the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday 11 May 2021.
- Watch the prorogation ceremony on Parliament TV
- Read the Royal Commission and Her Majesty’s Prorogation Speech in Lords Hansard
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 Chamber.
New legislation
Following scrutiny by both Houses, these Bills received Royal Assent on Thursday 29 April 2021:
- Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill
- Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill
- Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Bill
- British Library Board (Power to Borrow) Bill
- Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill
- Domestic Abuse Bill
- Education and Training (Welfare of Children) Bill
- Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill
- Financial Services Bill
- Fire Safety Bill
- Forensic Science Regulator Bill
- National Security and Investment Bill
- Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Bill
- Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
- Prisons (Substance Testing) Bill
- Trade Bill
What happens next?
State Opening
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday 11 May.
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.