In the event of grave disorder breaking out in the British House of Commons, the Speaker

Speaker of the British House of Commons

The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...

 has the power to suspend or to adjourn the sitting. The power derives from a resolution made on 17 February 1902, and which was made Standing Order of the House on 1 December 1902, and which states in its current form:
The following table lists all the occasions on which this Standing Order has been utilised.

Date	Occasion	References
22 May 1905	The Liberal Party Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...  leader Henry Campbell Bannerman led an adjournment debate on colonial preference, demanding a statement from the Prime Minister Arthur Balfour Arthur Balfour Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman... . However the Government chose Secretary of State for the Colonies Secretary of State for the Colonies The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies.... , Alfred Lyttelton Alfred Lyttelton Alfred Lyttelton QC was a British politician and sportsman who excelled at both football and cricket. During his time at university he participated in Varsity Matches in five sports: cricket , football , athletics , rackets and real tennis , displaying an ability that made him... , to reply. Liberal MPs, considering that Lyttelton did not have sufficient authority, refused to allow him to speak and demanded that the Prime Minister state Government policy. The Speaker adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1905] 202; Hansard 4ser vol 146 cols 1053-72
24 July 1911	Feelings were running high as Prime Minister H. H. Asquith H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC, KC served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916...  had just announced that King George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....  would create peers to ensure passage of the Parliament Bill Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 The Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 are two Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which form part of the constitution of the United Kingdom. Section 2 of the Parliament Act 1949 provides that that Act and the Parliament Act 1911 are to be construed as one.The Parliament Act 1911 The... , and had been all but shouted down. When the House moved to begin debate on amendments proposed by the House of Lords House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster.... , the Government moved that the sitting be adjourned because the House had refused to hear any debate. F. E. Smith F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead GCSI, PC, KC , best known to history as F. E. Smith , was a British Conservative statesman and lawyer of the early 20th century. He was a skilled orator, noted for his staunch opposition to Irish nationalism, his wit, pugnacious views, and hard living... , from the Opposition front bench, sought to oppose the motion but was denied a hearing by Government MPs who blamed him for leading the previous disruption. The Speaker adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1911] 351; Hansard HC 5ser vol 28 cols 1482-4.
13 November 1912	Two days before, the Government had been defeated in a vote on the financial aspects of home rule for Ireland. The Government put down a motion to reverse the defeat. When Attorney General Attorney General for England and Wales Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...  Rufus Isaacs Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...  rose to speak in the debate, Opposition members refused to hear him and demanded an adjournment. After eight minutes the Speaker suspended the sitting for an hour. When the sitting resumed, the disruption did likewise and the Speaker then adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1912-13] 409; Hansard HC 5ser vol 43 cols 2053-4.
22 November 1920	Sir William Davison William Davison, 1st Baron Broughshane William Henry Davison, 1st Baron Broughshane KBE FSA JP DL was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament for Kensington South for twenty-four years....  asked a private notice question to Prime Minister David Lloyd George David Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...  to express support for British troops in Ireland and call for laws to allow people found with unlicensed arms and ammunition to be shot. Irish Nationalist MP Joseph Devlin Joseph Devlin Joseph Devlin, also known as Joe Devlin, was an Irish journalist and influential nationalist politician...  then raised the Croke Park massacre Bloody Sunday (1920) Bloody Sunday was a day of violence in Dublin on 21 November 1920, during the Irish War of Independence. In total, 31 people were killed – fourteen British, fourteen Irish civilians and three republican prisoners....  the previous day, causing uproar. Devlin continued to try to put his question and was assaulted by Conservative MP John Elsdale Molson who pulled him over the bench; one Government MP was heard calling "Kill him!". The Speaker suspended the sitting for 15 minutes; when it resumed, Molson apologised and Devlin was able to ask his questions and to get an answer.	CJ [1920] 436; Hansard HC 5ser vol 135 cols 38-9.
11 April 1923	On the previous day, the Government had been defeated in a Supply Day debate on the Civil Service estimates, over the employment of ex-servicemen. The Government put down a motion to approve the Civil Service estimate without explaining what they intended to do about ex-servicemen. Labour MPs refused to let the debate proceed without a Government pledge to change policy on ex-servicemen. The Speaker announced he was suspended the sitting; a fight then broke out on the floor of the House, when Labour MP Robert Murray Robert Murray (Scottish politician) Robert Murray was a Scottish co-operator and politician who served briefly in Parliament as a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...  was hit on the back of the head and retaliated against Walter Guinness Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne Walter Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne DSO & Bar PC was a Anglo-Irish politician and businessman. He served as the British minister of state in the Middle East until November 1944, when he was assassinated by the militant Jewish Zionist group Lehi...  who was standing nearest; while the two were separated, other MPs became involved in scuffles. The sitting was suspended for an hour and 13 minutes, and when it resumed, the sitting was immediately adjourned.	CJ [1923] 88; Hansard HC 5ser vol 162 cols 1243-66.
16 November 1927	The Opposition had put down a motion of censure on the Government for failing to deal adequately with the problems of the coal industry. Leader of the Opposition Ramsay MacDonald Ramsay MacDonald James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....  opened the debate, but the Government chose President of the Board of Trade Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton GBE, CH, MC, PC , known as Philip Lloyd-Greame until 1924 and as The Viscount Swinton from 1935 until 1955, was a prominent British Conservative politician from the 1920s until the 1950s.-Background and early life:Born as Philip Lloyd-Graeme, he was the...  to speak. Labour MPs refused to allow Cunliffe-Lister to speak, demanding that the Prime Minister should speak for the Government. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 58 minutes. When it resumed, Cunliffe-Lister attempted to speak but was still denied a hearing by Labour MPs; after seven minutes the Speaker adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1927] 329; Hansard HC 5ser vol 210 cols 1067-84.
2 July 1931	John McGovern was called to put his question to the Secretary of State for Scotland Secretary of State for Scotland The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...  William Adamson William Adamson William Adamson was a Scottish trade unionist and Labour politician. He was Leader of the Labour Party between 1917 and 1921 and served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1924 and between 1929 and 1931 in the first two Labour administrations headed by Ramsay MacDonald.-Background:Adamson was...  concerning arrests of lay preachers in Glasgow. He continued to ask supplementary questions demanding the release of the preachers, and the Speaker directed him to resume his seat. McGovern refused and was 'named' for his defiance of the Speaker; a motion to suspend him from the service of the House was carried. McGovern refused to leave and the Serjeant-at-Arms was ordered to remove him by force. Labour MPs James Maxton James Maxton James Maxton was a Scottish socialist politician, and leader of the Independent Labour Party. A prominent proponent of Home Rule for Scotland, he is remembered as one of the leading figures of the Red Clydeside era.-Early years:... , John Beckett and John Kinley John Kinley John Kinley was a British Labour Party politician.Kinley was Member of Parliament for Bootle from 1929 to 1931 and from 1945 to 1955, preceding Simon Mahon.- External links :...  came to McGovern's help in resisting the Serjeant-at-Arms and his assistants, causing a mass brawl. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 19 minutes while the struggle went on.	CJ [1931] 333; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 254 cols 1465-71.
22 July 1936	A debate on the Unemployment Assistance Regulations had begun at 3:59 pm. After 26 hours of debate, Sir John Simon John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon GCSI GCVO OBE PC was a British politician who held senior Cabinet posts from the beginning of the First World War to the end of the Second. He is one of only three people to have served as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer,...  was winding up for the Government and appeared to refer to "stinginess" in some local councils, including Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... . Glaswegian MP George Buchanan George Buchanan (politician) George Buchanan was born in Glasgow, Scotland. A committed socialist, he joined the Independent Labour Party .Buchanan was vice-chairman of Glasgow Trades Council and sat on the city council from 1919 to 1923...  protested and denounced Simon as a liar, refusing to withdraw his remark. The Speaker 'named' him for an unparliamentary remark and a motion was proposed to suspend him. Fellow Glasgow MP Campbell Stephen Campbell Stephen Rev Campbell Stephen MA BD BSc was a Scottish socialist politician.A native of Bower parish, Caithness, he was educated at Townhead Public School, Allan Glen's School and Glasgow University....  then objected and refused to sit down. The Speaker then suspended the sitting for fifteen minutes; when it resumed, Buchanan, Stephen and a third Glasgow MP John McGovern were all suspended from the service of the House for disruption.	CJ [1935-36] 341; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 315 cols 835-48.
1 November 1956	Military action against Egypt over the Suez Canal had just begun and the Minister of Defence, Antony Head Antony Head, 1st Viscount Head Antony Henry Head, 1st Viscount Head GCMG, CBE, MC, PC was a British soldier, Conservative politician and diplomat.-Background and education:... , came to make a statement. As supplementary questions were asked, a dispute arose over what subjects would be in order in an Opposition debate which was to follow, and Labour MPs disputed the Speaker's interpretation. The Speaker suspended the sitting for half an hour. When the sitting resumed, supplementary questions on the statement continued.	CJ [1955-56] 428; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 558 cols 1619-30.
6 December 1961	During Committee stage debate of the Commonwealth Immigrants Bill Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 The Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.Before the Act was passed, citizens of British commonwealth countries had extensive rights to migrate to the UK... , the Deputy Speaker Sir Gordon Touche Sir Gordon Touche, 1st Baronet Sir Gordon Cosmo Touche, 1st Baronet was a British Barrister and politician who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for more than 30 years and became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons...  made a mistake announcing the result of a vote. A dispute then arose over the selection of amendments for debate. The Deputy Speaker suspended the sitting for half an hour. On resumption, dispute over amendments continued and eventually a motion to end debate was carried without any further progress being made.	CJ [1961-62] 55; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 650 cols 1455-1500.
23 July 1970	During a statement by Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...  Anthony Barber on negotiations with the European Communities European Communities The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions... , a member of the public in the gallery threw two canisters of CS gas CS gas 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is the defining component of a "tear gas" commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent...  into the chamber. Many MPs were overcome and Tom Swain Thomas Henry Swain Thomas Henry 'Tom' Swain was a British Labour politician who served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Derbyshire North East from 1959 until he died in office 20 years later....  had to be taken to hospital, along with two members of the House of Commons staff. The sitting was suspended for an hour and 55 minutes to allow the gas to clear.	CJ [1970-71] 68; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 804 col 785.
25 January 1971	During debate on a motion to guillotine debate on the Industrial Relations Bill Industrial Relations Act 1971 The Industrial Relations Act 1971 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since repealed. It was largely based on proposals outlined in the governing Conservative Party's manifesto for the 1970 general election... , Secretary of State for Employment Secretary of State for Employment The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...  Robert Carr Robert Carr Leonard Robert Carr, Baron Carr of Hadley, PC is a British Conservative politician.Robert Carr was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he read Natural Sciences, graduating in 1938....  was barracked by Labour MPs (particularly Charles Loughlin Charles Loughlin Charles William Loughlin was a British Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for West Gloucestershire from 1959 until he stood down at the October 1974 general election...  and Alex Eadie Alex Eadie Alexander Eadie , known as Alex Eadie, is a British Labour politician.Eadie was educated at Buckhaven Senior Secondary School, Fife, and was a miners' agent... ) who then raised points of order to disrupt debate, and a group of Labour MPs gathered on the floor of the House in an attempt to halt the debate. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 15 minutes; when it resumed a motion to extend debate was carried and debate on amendments to the guillotine motion began.	CJ [1970-71] 216; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 810 cols 156-60.
20 January 1972	On the day that unemployment statistics exceeded one million for the first time since the Second World War, Labour MPs barracked Prime Minister Edward Heath Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....  from the start of Prime Minister's Questions Prime Minister's Questions Prime minister's questions is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom that takes place every Wednesday during which the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions from members of parliament...  shouting "Heath out!" and prevented any questions being asked or answered. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 11 minutes, until the scheduled end of the question session.	CJ [1971-72] 109; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 829 cols 660-1.
4 March 1975	Opposition spokesman on Industry Michael Heseltine Michael Heseltine Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...  raised a point of order about the timing of a debate on a motion to give subsidies to motorcycle manufacturer Norton Villiers Triumph Norton Villiers Triumph Norton Villiers Triumph was a British motorcycle manufacturer, formed by the British Government to continue the UK motorcycling industry, but the company eventually failed.-Formation:... . The reply from Secretary of State for Industry Tony Benn Tony Benn Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...  appeared to contradict assurances given by Leader of the House of Commons Edward Short Edward Short, Baron Glenamara Edward Watson Short, Baron Glenamara, CH PC is a former Labour Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, England. He was a minister during the Labour Governments of Harold Wilson...  the previous night. Opposition MPs raised points of order accusing the Government of lying about the financial condition of the company. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 20 minutes. Angry confrontation continued and Nigel Lawson Nigel Lawson Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989...  was seen to hit junior Minister Clinton Davis with his House of Commons Order Paper. On resuming the Leader of the House made a statement explaining the confusion.	CJ [1974-75] 259; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 887 cols 1270-76.
27 May 1976	The Speaker had accepted a suggestion by Conservative MP Robin Maxwell-Hyslop Robin Maxwell-Hyslop Sir Robin John Maxwell-Hyslop was a British Conservative Party politician.Maxwell-Hyslop was educated at Stowe School and Christ Church, Oxford. He worked for the aero engine division of Rolls-Royce from 1954 to 1960....  that the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Bill Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 The Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that nationalised large parts of the UK aerospace and shipbuilding industries and established two corporations, British Aerospace and British Shipbuilders ....  was hybrid Hybrid bill In the United Kingdom, a hybrid bill is a public bill which affects the private interests of a particular person or organization. It is generally initiated by the Government on behalf of non-Parliamentary bodies such as local authorities and is treated like a private bill for the beginning of its... . The Government moved a motion to reverse the ruling; after a debate the Government won by 1 vote when Tom Pendry Tom Pendry, Baron Pendry Thomas Pendry, Baron Pendry PC is a Labour politician and member of the House of Lords. He was previously the Labour member of parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1970 to 2001. In 2000, prior to his retirement as an MP he was made a member of the Privy council on the recommendation of Tony... , who was supposed to be paired Pair (parliamentary convention) Pairing is a system whereby two members of parliament from opposing political parties may agree to abstain where one member is unable to vote, due to other commitments, illness, travel problems, etc...  and absent, voted anyway. Opposition Industry Secretary Michael Heseltine Michael Heseltine Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...  removed the House of Commons mace from its place on the table and advanced towards the Government front bench. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 20 minutes; when it resumed, the House immediately adjourned.	CJ [1975-76] 360; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 912 cols 767-8.
6 July 1978	During points of order about debates on the Scotland Bill Scotland Act 1978 The Scotland Act 1978 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom intended to establish a Scottish Assembly as a devolved legislature for Scotland... , members of the public threw manure Manure Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...  into the chamber from the gallery. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 20 minutes to allow it to be cleaned.	CJ [1977-78] 438; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 953, cols 675-6.
13 November 1980	Points of order were being raised about a Government announcement of increased rents for council house Council house A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at... s when the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod Black Rod The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...  arrived from the House of Lords House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....  to summon MPs to the ceremony of prorogation (end) of the session. Labour MPs refused to allow him in, demanding more detail from the Government on rents. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 11 minutes. On resuming, Labour MPs continued to press for more details from the Government. After a further suspension of 15 minutes, the Secretary of State for the Environment Michael Heseltine Michael Heseltine Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC is a British businessman, Conservative politician and patron of the Tory Reform Group. He was a Member of Parliament from 1966 to 2001 and was a prominent figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major...  made a longer statement.	CJ [1979-80] 851; Hansard, HC 5ser vol 992 cols 763-70.
16 November 1981	Ulster Unionist MP Rev Robert Bradford had been murdered two days before and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...  Humphrey Atkins Humphrey Atkins Humphrey Edward Gregory Atkins, Baron Colnbrook KCMG PC was a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from 1979-82....  made a statement on security. His statement was disrupted by members of the Democratic Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...  from the Members' Gallery. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 10 minutes. On resuming, all three MPs were 'named' and suspended from the service of the House; the sitting was suspended for a further 10 minutes so that they could be removed by force.	CJ [1981-82] 27; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 13 cols 23-5.
21 November 1984	The Secretary of State for Social Services Secretary of State for Social Services The Secretary of State for Social Services was a position in the UK cabinet, created on 1 November 1968 with responsibility for the Department of Health and Social Security...  Norman Fowler Norman Fowler Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler, PC is a British Conservative politician who was from 1981 to 1990 a member of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet.-Early life:...  attempted to make a statement on the Government's decision to withdraw some welfare benefits from the families of strikers. Labour MPs disrupted the statement to protest at the decision. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 10 minutes. On resuming, Labour MPs stood in front of the table of the House and refused to take their seats. The Speaker then adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1984-85] 41; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 68 cols 385-6.
17 January 1985	After questions to the Leader of the House of Commons John Biffen John Biffen William John Biffen, Baron Biffen, PC, DL , was a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who previously spent 36 years in the House of Commons.-Early life:...  about future business, Labour MPs continued to raise points of order demanding a debate on the National Union of Miners strike UK miners' strike (1984–1985) The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement... . A private member's bill Private Member's Bill A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...  was presented but the House was prevented from moving to its scheduled business. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 20 minutes; when it resumed, the scheduled business began.	CJ [1984-85] 163; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 71 cols 520-6.
15 March 1988	During the 1988 budget statement of Chancellor of the Exchequer Chancellor of the Exchequer The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...  Nigel Lawson Nigel Lawson Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC , is a British Conservative politician and journalist. He was a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Blaby from 1974–92, and served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of Margaret Thatcher from June 1983 to October 1989... , Labour MP Dave Nellist Dave Nellist David John Nellist is a British Trotskyist activist and former Labour Member of Parliament for the now abolished constituency of Coventry South East...  led a group who attempted to intervene and disrupt the sitting; he refused to resume his seat. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 10 minutes. On resuming the budget speech continued.	CJ [1987-88] 383; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 129 cols 1012-3.
13 March 1990	After an all night sitting on the National Health Service and Community Care Bill National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 is a piece of legislation which governs health care and social care in the United Kingdom... , Labour MPs attempted to prolong proceedings in the hope that the House would keep sitting beyond 2:30 PM so that the next day's sitting would be cancelled. When Conservative MP Emma Nicholson was unable to hold her half hour adjournment debate, the Speaker adjourned the sitting.	CJ [1989-90] 247; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 169 cols 461-2.
3 July 1990	The Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...  Kenneth Clarke Kenneth Clarke Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...  used a rare but established procedure to make a statement about NHS trust NHS Trust A National Health Service trust provides services on behalf of the National Health Service in England and NHS Wales.The trusts are not trusts in the legal sense but are in effect public sector corporations. Each trust is headed by a board consisting of executive and non-executive directors, and is... s after the end of question time. Labour MPs objected that the procedure used deprived them of the ability to scrutinise the details of the statement and therefore of the ability properly to question the Secretary of State; the time for the statement was also taken out of a Labour initiated debate. After a series of points of order were raised, disrupting the questioning, the Speaker suspended the sitting for 10 minutes. On its resumption the Speaker announced that the statement would be made in full on the following day.	CJ [1989-90] 513; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 175 cols 859-67.
17 December 1992	During general debates held before the Christmas adjournment, Scottish Labour MPs raised points of order demanding a Government statement on the announcement that eight NHS hospitals in Scotland were to become NHS trusts. When Conservative MP Richard Ottaway Richard Ottaway Richard Geoffrey James Ottaway is a British Conservative politician, and Member of Parliament for Croydon South.-Early life:...  was unable to hold his debate, the Speaker suspended the sitting for 8 minutes. On resuming, MPs continued to demand a statement and prevent the debate taking place. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 2 hours 40 minutes, resuming only to allow Royal Assent to be signified to three new Acts of Parliament and then to adjourn for the Christmas recess.	CJ [1992-93] 332; Hansard, HC 6ser vol 216 cols 579-88.
4 February 2004	During a debate on the Hutton Inquiry Hutton Inquiry The Hutton Inquiry was a 2003 judicial inquiry in the UK chaired by Lord Hutton, who was appointed by the Labour government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of David Kelly, a biological warfare expert and former UN weapons inspector in Iraq.On 18 July 2003, Kelly, an employee...  report, members of the public in the gallery persistently interjected. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 12 minutes to allow the gallery to be cleared. Not identified in the Commons Journal explicitly as an exercise of powers under Standing Order 46.	Hansard, HC 6ser vol col 771.
19 May 2004	During Prime Minister's Questions Prime Minister's Questions Prime minister's questions is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom that takes place every Wednesday during which the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions from members of parliament... , Tony Blair Tony Blair Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...  was hit by some purple powder fired from the gallery by a member of the public. The Speaker suspended the sitting for 1 hour 12 minutes. Not identified in the Commons Journal explicitly as an exercise of powers under Standing Order 46.	Hansard, HC 6ser vol 421 cols 974-5. Video
15 September 2004	During debate on the Hunting Bill Hunting Act 2004 The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The effect of the Act is to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales from 18 February 2005... , members of the public opposed to the Bill entered the chamber of the House of Commons. The Deputy Speaker suspended the sitting for 19 minutes. Not identified in the Commons Journal explicitly as an exercise of powers under Standing Order 46.	Hansard, HC 6ser vol 424 col 1337. Video