Plenary meetings

What is the arrangement of business?

-I have no idea.

Stenographic report?

-Never heard of it.

When does Parliament meet?

-Friday?

Meetings in Parliament are hard to follow for outsiders. Difficult words, strange procedures,and meetings till all hours.But some days nothing seems to be happening. It may be confusing but meetings take place according to an established pattern. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays MPs meet in the Plenary Meeting Hall. The first meeting of the week is usually question time which starts Tuesday at 2 PM.

Today's question time includes four sets of questions. We'll start with

Question time can be watched live on TV and the website. Cabinet members must come to the House of Representatives when MPs want to ask them questions. MPs may submit oral questions till Tuesday, 12 o'clock. I select four questions every week, depending on topicality and urgency provided there are no other meetings on the subject in the House.

What is arrangement of business?

I have no idea.

Is this about what happens in debates on employment?

Arrangement of business?

Schedules, I think.

I give the floor to Mr Vendrik on the arrangement of business.

Question time is followed by the arrangement of business.

Could you put the report of the committee meeting on the food crisis on the plenary agenda?

This is also done on Wednesdays and Thursdays. During the arrangement of business the House of Representatives draws up its own agenda. There may be an ordinary debate or an urgent debate. MPs may also ask for written information.

I assume the Finance Minister will send us a letter.

We'd also like a letter first.

We'll send the stenographic report to the Cabinet.

The written report of the debate, particularly the request for a letter will be sent to the relevant Department. This Department can then send the letter that was requested.

Please be seated for the vote.

After the arrangement of business MPs vote on motions from previous debates. After all this, the House continues with the week's agenda. This is when actual debate begins. A meeting of the House always proceeds in the same manner. First, spokespersons of the parties have the floor. Then the Minister or State Secretary replies. This part is called 'the first stage'. After the Cabinet's replies, MPs often have other questions. That's why there's a second stage, in which various MPs are given the floor. The member of Cabinet replies again. If questions have not been answered satisfactorily, a third stage follows. Speakers may interrupt each other to ask questions.

How and why do you want to do that?

-Ms Gesthuizen.

Interruptions should be succinct. Long-winded introductions would make debates last too long. Speaking time is limited beforehand for every single debate. As interruptions and answers to these are not included debates may take a long time.

What time do they finish?

-Late. But I don't know what time.

Maybe about 4 o'clock.

We're not enthusiastic, because last week debates lasted till 1.15 AM, 2.30 AM and 10.30 PM.

Every day has a fixed agenda. In principle, it's always completed. Even if this means meetings last till late in the evening or at night.