Parliamentary procedure for an unscheduled meeting
A recall of parliament is a parliamentary procedure involving an extraordinary sitting of a parliament, occurring outside the time when that parliament would usually meet, such as over a weekend, or when the parliament would normally be in recess. A parliament is generally recalled as a result of events of major national importance, thus allowing members to hold an emergency debate on issues relating to those events.
In the United Kingdom, decisions as to whether the House of Commons or House of Lords should be recalled are the responsibility of the Speakers of those individual bodies, and are usually taken following a request from the government.[1] This follows a 2001 recommendation from the Hansard Society Commission on Parliamentary Scrutiny that "the Speaker of the Commons should have the ability to recall Parliament at times of emergency".[2] This is codified by the House of Commons Standing Order 13.[3]
2 June 2020: The House of Commons was recalled for an earlier sitting to debate and vote on proceedings during its divisions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
6 January 2021: The House of Commons was recalled to debate and vote on regulations relating to public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]
12 April 2021: The House of Commons was recalled a day early after its Easter break to allow MPs to pay tribute to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh following his death on 9 April. The House of Lords was already due to sit on the 12th.[19]
^"Standing Orders of the House of Commons - Public Business 2015". parliament.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2020. 13.—(1)Whenever the House stands adjourned and it is represented to the Speaker by Her Majesty's Ministers that the public interest requires that the House should meet at a time earlier than that to which the House stands adjourned, the Speaker, if he is satisfied that the public interest does so require, may give notice that, being so satisfied, he appoints a time for the House to meet, and the House shall accordingly meet at the time stated in such notice.
^Honeycombe-Foster, Matt (24 September 2019). "John Bercow orders Commons to reopen after Supreme Court rules Boris Johnson's shutdown 'unlawful'". PoliticsHome. Retrieved 25 September 2019. "In the light of that explicit judgment I have instructed the House authorities to prepare not for the recall - the prorogation was unlawful and is void - but to prepare for the resumption of the business of the House of Commons.
^"House of Commons recalled on 30 December". Parliament.UK. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020. The Speaker of the House of Commons has granted a request from the Government to recall the House at 9.30am on 30 December 2020 to debate legislation to give effect to the Agreement with the EU in UK law.
^"What's the timetable for parliament's vote on the Brexit trade deal?". The Guardian. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020. As parliament is in recess for Christmas, it is being recalled on 30 December so that MPs can debate and vote on the bill to enact Downing Street's trade agreement with the EU.
^"Parliament recalled for Duke of Edinburgh tributes". The Independent. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021. Parliament is to be recalled on Monday to allow MPs to pay tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh following his death earlier today. Prime minister Boris Johnson will lead the tributes from 2.30pm, as the House of Commons reconvenes a day early after its Easter break... The House of Lords was already scheduled to return from recess on Monday at 1pm