Statistics from the 50th Parliament

Much has happened during the 50th Parliament – between the State Opening on 21 December 2011 and the sunny dissolution ceremony on 14 August 2014.

Parliament TV during the 50th Parliament covered a total of 1,409 sitting hours in the House, just a little less than the 1,664 hours of the previous Parliament. One hundred and thirty eight Government bills and 45 Members’ bills were introduced, 127 petitions presented and 2,776 questions asked. The 23 staff of Hansard got it all down in 19,839 pages of transcript.

The select committees held 1,259 meetings over 2,760 hours and the 17 committees considered 1,203 items of business. These included bills, petitions, inquiries, briefings, estimates and annual reviews and resulted in 1,007 reports presented to the House. The Local Government and Environment Committee clocked up the most meeting hours at 316 hours, followed by the Commerce Committee with 289 and the Social Services Committee with 269. This included time spent hearing public submissions, and being advised by officials from government agencies and the Parliamentary Counsel Office – New Zealand’s law drafting and publishing office.

All of this resulted in 346 bills becoming Acts after they received the Royal assent. Eleven of them were members’ bills, compared with only two in the previous term.

During the adjournment debate on 31 July, Mr Speaker was pleased to note the limited use of urgency, at 79 hours, compared with the increased use of extended sittings at 110 hours. This was made possible by a change to the Standing Orders after the last Parliament.

Of course none of the above happened on an empty stomach; 146,314 espressos were downed in the parliamentary precinct, while Parliament’s cafe, Copperfield’s, sold 11,532 omelettes, 14,518 poached eggs, 41,742 buffet lunches and 23,217 sandwiches.

ENDS

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