The moment of interruption

17.8As noted above (para 17.2 ), on every day of the week except Saturday and Sunday, the business under consideration is interrupted at a specified hour: at 10 pm on Mondays, at 7 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at 5 pm on Thursdays, and at 2.30 pm on Fridays.1 In practice, much of the business of the House is conducted in the expectation that it will conclude at this time, whether by debate coming naturally to a conclusion, or as a result of a Member successfully moving the ‘closure’ at that point (see para 20.52 ff), or because the House has agreed a specific order allowing the matter under debate to be decided at that time. If, however, at the moment of interruption, a debate has not concluded and the House is not engaged on business exempted under Standing Order No 15(1) (see para 17.12 ), the Speaker rises from the Chair and interrupts the business then under consideration; or, if the House is in committee, the Chair leaves the Chair to make their report to the House. If it is business which the House expects to resume at a later date, the Member in charge of the business names a day for its resumption. If no day is named for its resumption, the business under consideration at the moment of interruption becomes a dropped order (see para 19.35 ). If the debate is on a motion that the House has considered a matter (a general debate), the motion lapses under Standing Order No 9(3).

Since they are not exempted under any standing order, dilatory motions2 pending at the moment of interruption lapse without question put,3 even if the House is suspended at that time4 (see para 20.24 ). A motion for the adjournment made after the moment of interruption is therefore a new question.5

At the moment of interruption, the closure may be moved; and if such a motion is made or proceedings on it are then in progress, the Speaker, or Chairman, does not leave the Chair until the questions consequent on it, and on any further question, as provided in Standing Order No 36, have been decided (see para 20.57 ).

Points of order may be taken following the end of the business under consideration and may delay subsequent business until after the moment of interruption.6