When Parliament is sitting, the House of Lords normally meets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2.30pm and on Thursdays at 11.30am.
The House of Lords does not always sit on a Friday but when it does it meets at 11am.
There is no time limit on the proceedings of the House of Lords, but business is normally concluded a little later than 10pm (normally earlier on Thursdays and Fridays).
On Thursdays there is a break for lunch, during which no business is taken. The House always breaks for dinner at around 7pm, during which time a short debate will take place.
The following is a guide to normal recess dates of the House of Lords, which are always subject to the progress of business:
Christmas and New Year/Winter festivals – normally the last two weeks in December and the first week in January
Easter – normally two weeks around Easter
Whitsun – normally a week at the end of May
Summer – normally about seven weeks from mid-July to the first week in September
Conference – normally two weeks in late September/early October
There is always a brief recess prior to the State Opening of Parliament after prorogation. It normally lasts about a week.
