Read the Sessional Returns for the 2019-21 session

It includes figures for the number and length of all sittings and the time spent on different types of business in the Chamber and Westminster Hall; as well as comprehensive data on bills, parliamentary questions, divisions, early day motions and the meetings and reports of Commons committees.

Some key figures from the 2019-21 session include:

• 205 sitting days and more than 1700 hours
• More than 69,000 written questions asked
• Ministers called to the House 120 times to answer Urgent Questions
• More than 5500 e-petitions were opened on the Parliamentary Petitions website
• Parliament petitions were signed more than 30,760,000 times
• 80 petitions were debated in the House of Commons or discussed by MPs in e-petition sessions.
• 7 Private Members’ Bills given Royal Assent
• 44 Government bills given Royal Assent
• 1917 formal Select Committee meetings
• 4156 Select Committee witnesses gave evidence
• 403 Parliamentary Select Committee reports

Of the 80 petitions debated in the House of Commons or discussed by MPs in e-petition sessions, 57 petitions were debated in 35 Westminster Hall debates, 15 petitions were debated in three debates in the main Chamber, and eight petitions were debated in six e-petition sessions.

You can read the full 2019-21 Sessional Returns on the UK Parliament Website here.

You can also find previous Sessional Returns dating back to 1997.

While the 2017-19 Sessional Return covered the longest parliamentary session in modern times, including vast amounts of Brexit-related legislation, the 2019-21 Sessional Returns are notable for a shorter – though no less intense period. The newest edition of the Sessional Returns records an exceptional period in the 700-year history of the House as the organisation rapidly adapted to continue functioning in the face of Covid-19.

The Sessional Return is the authoritative source for statistics about the work of the House of Commons and its Committees. It includes figures for the number and length of all sittings and the time spent on different types of business in the House of Commons Chamber and Westminster Hall.

The publication also includes comprehensive data on bills, parliamentary questions, divisions, early day motions and the meetings and reports of Commons committees.

Sessional Returns were first published in consolidated form for the 1986–87 Parliamentary Session. Some returns are kept with the Parliamentary Archives, and date as far back as 1887.

Find out more about Parliamentary Sessions and sittings on our website.

Further reading:

• The House of Commons has produced a booklet looking at how the House adapted to the pandemic. Find out more here.
• Read the Commons Library Insight article on the 2017-19 Parliamentary Session being the longest session ever.