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House of Representatives                                Ch 16                                                 p 583

Termination of discussion

The time allowed for discussion of a matter is limited to two hours. At the expiration of the allotted two hours the discussion is automatically concluded. The House has extended the time for discussion, ¹ and further extended the time, ² by suspending standing orders. The discussion cannot be adjourned and the motion ‘That the question be now put’ cannot be moved, there being no question before the House. The motion that a Member speaking ‘be no longer heard’ may however be moved. ³

Discussion may be concluded prior to the two hour time limit if no Member rises to speak on the matter and this is now the usual method of ending the discussion. It has become the practice in recent times to limit the number of Members participating in a discussion, by arrangement between the parties, to two (or occasionally three) Members from each side, which means that the discussion is concluded well before the expiration of the allotted two hours and generally in about 50 minutes. However, until the two hours have elapsed it is in order for any Member who has not yet spoken to seek the call, despite any such arrangement, and from time to time the discussion may be prolonged beyond the expected time. ⁴ Discussion may be interrupted by the automatic adjournment provisions. ⁵

VP 1968-69/416.

VP 1968-69/417.

VP 1996-98/533.

Possibly by an independent Member.

E.g. VP 2002-04/ 1129.