Points of Order

– in the House of Commons at 4:52 pm on 26 March 2026.

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Photo of Andrew Rosindell Andrew Rosindell Reform UK, Romford 4:52, 26 March 2026

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sure you will agree that the disclosure of the Mandelson files is of national importance and in the public interest, so can you please confirm that all the Mandelson files—including those restricted by the police—will be released to the Intelligence and Security Committee by 29 April, the date that I believe will be the Prorogation of Parliament? If not, can you confirm that the Humble Address will be rolled over into the next Session, or that a new motion will be tabled to ensure that those important documents are released?

Photo of Andrew Rosindell Andrew Rosindell Reform UK, Romford

I thank you for your indulgence this afternoon, Madam Deputy Speaker. We are about to start the Easter recess. Traditionally in this House, we have always had an Easter Adjournment Debate. Last year, the Easter Adjournment debate was renamed to “Adjournment of general debate of the House”. Can I ask you why there has been no Easter Adjournment debate this year? We are still a Christian country, and Easter is an important festival that we have always recognised by having that Adjournment debate at the end of the Session.

Deputy Speaker

The Deputy speaker is in charge of proceedings of the House of Commons in the absence of the Speaker.

The deputy speaker's formal title is Chairman of Ways and Means, one of whose functions is to preside over the House of Commons when it is in a Committee of the Whole House.

The deputy speaker also presides over the Budget.

Prorogation

Prorogation takes the form of an announcement on behalf of the Queen by the Lord Chancellor in which he reviews the session's work.

Prorogation brings to an end parliamentary business for that sitting. There are some excpetions as to what Bills can be carried over to the next parliamentary session.

House of Parliament 'Major Parliamentary Occasions - http://www.parliament.uk/works/occasion.cfm#prorog

BBC News A-Z Parliament - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/a-z_of_parliament/p-q/82524.stm

Adjournment debate

An adjournment debate is a short half hour debate that is introduced by a backbencher at the end of each day's business in the House of Commons.

Adjournment debates are also held in the side chamber of Westminster Hall.

This technical procedure of debating a motion that the House should adjourn gives backbench members the opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them, and to have a minister respond to the points they raise.

The speaker holds a weekly ballot in order to decide which backbench members will get to choose the subject for each daily debate.

Backbenchers normally use this as an opportunity to debate issues related to their constituency.

An all-day adjournment debate is normally held on the final day before each parliamentary recess begins. On these occasions MPs do not have to give advance notice of the subjects which they intend to raise.

The leader of the House replies at the end of the debate to all of the issues raised.