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​​Sitting Procedures​


Parliament sits in sessions. A session begins with the first sitting of the Assembly after its prorogation or dissolution at any time and terminating when the Assembly is next prorogued or dissolved.
 
The Assembly usually sits on Tuesdays at 11.30 a.m. Announcements, if any, are made by the Speaker and Papers are laid on the Table. The next 3 hours are allocated to Question Time, during which, only Questions of which notice has been given requiring an Oral Answer, listed on the Order Paper are dealt with. Any outstanding questions, which have not been replied to within the allocated time frame are dealt with as Questions for Written Answers, together with the other questions listed as Questions not requiring an Oral Answer. Next, Parliament moves on to Ministerial Statements, if any, and this is usually followed by the introduction of Public Bills whereby, the Ministers in charge of the respective Bills on the day's Order Paper will introduce the Bills for the First Reading stage and subsequent stages, as per the Order Paper and seconded. Private Member's Bills can also be introduced into Parliament by Members of Parliament, other than Government Ministers. Parliament will debate on Bills that are set down for Second and subsequently deals with the Bills at Committee Stage and Third Reading. Motions, other than Procedural motions and Private Members' motions, are debated immediately after the First Reading stage of the Bills. Private Members' motions are introduced into the House after a balloting and a day therefore, is fixed for debate of such motions during each meeting. 
 
However, Parliament may sit on any other day and at any other time as it may decide. Parliament may also sit and despatch its business differently or decide on any other item of business for the day.