Recall of Parliament

At 2.48pm on 11 April 2025, the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament announced that both Houses would be recalled on Saturday 12 April 2025 to “to consider legislative proposals … to ensure the continued operation of British Steel blast furnaces is safeguarded”.

The House of Commons will sit from 11am and the House of Lords, from midday.

It is very unusual for the House of Commons to sit on a Saturday. The last Saturday sittings were:

Saturday 10 September 2022 – to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty the Queen

Saturday 19 October 2019 – to debate withdrawal from the European Union

Saturday 3 April 1982 – to debate the Falkland Islands

Prior to 11 April 2025, the House of Commons was last recalled on 18 August 2021 to debate to the situation in Afghanistan. This was the 34th recall during a recess since 1948. 

Under standing orders, the Speaker of the House of Commons determines whether the House is to be recalled on the basis of representations made by ministers.

Under the Labour Government (1997-2010), MPs argued that they, rather than the government, should be able to make representations to the Speaker to recall Parliament. The Labour Government announced proposals to allow MPs as well as the government to request that the Speaker recall Parliament but the proposals were never implemented.

In a Hansard Society Lecture in October 2017, Speaker Bercow noted the current rules that allow only the government to request a recall of the House of Commons. He said that the government should have this power but he went on to ask whether another mechanism could be devised to allow other MPs to request a recall.

The costs incurred by MPs in attending the House when it is recalled are met by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in accordance with rules in The Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses.

The standing orders of the House of Lords and of the devolved legislatures in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast provide for early recall if the circumstances require it.

The House of Lords has generally been recalled when the House of Commons was recalled. The House of Lords was recalled on 18 August 2021 to debate the situation in Afghanistan.

Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, neither House was recalled under the procedures in their standing orders. The Succession to the Crown Act 1707 requires Parliament to meet if it is adjourned or prorogued. Both Houses were scheduled to sit on 9 September but scheduled business was not taken, rather tributes were paid to Her late Majesty.