Glossary - UK Parliament

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" class="noJS"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=W","20120201003019","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1328056219"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20120201003019im_/http://www.parliament.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120201003019cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/reset.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120201003019cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/grid.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="projection,screen" href="/web/20120201003019cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/main.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="print" href="/web/20120201003019cs_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/css/print.css"/>    <script type="text/javascript"> (function () { try { document.documentElement.className = 'js'; } catch (e) { } })();</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery-1.4.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/jquery.equalheights.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/parliament-uk.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/swfobject.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/slideshow.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ $(document).ready(function(){ var settings = { main:{ advancedSearchAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/MemberNames.ashx', edmMembersAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/EdmMembers.ashx', calendarListingAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/CalendarMonth.ashx', publicationsAndRecordsInitialShow: 3, slideshowAjaxUrl: '/AJAX/ImageGallery.ashx' }, woa:{ ajaxFlashZoomArtworkUrl: '/AJAX/ImageZoom.ashx' }, masterPage: 'threecolumn', pageType: 'main-glossary', pageInstanceId: '14348' } parliamentUK.init(settings); }); /*]]>*/ </script> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="title" content="Glossary"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta name="description" content="Helpful A-Z glossary listing key parliamentary terms and their definition."/> <meta name="Date" content="2010-04-21 06:22:06"/> <meta name="language" content="English"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=940"/> <meta name="sections" content="Parliament home page~Site information~Glossary"/> <title> Glossary - UK Parliament </title></head> <body class="main"> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ //load any sub-site JavaScript files (if required) parliamentUK.loadSubSiteJavaScript($(document.body).attr('class')); /*]]>*/ </script> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=W" id="aspnetForm"> <div> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="/wEPDwUJMjM4MTQ2NTQ1ZGRGA2RJfDHiBcsVrKGD1SqzuJPgRQ=="/> </div> <script src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/ScriptResource.axd?d=xGaghmX67eZMqQrjn9_owpLgYT0J3wa6Rsq_OiD8AmTAzGd9balscFDKON1hxdHWEo29M5eCRGvV7FYOaXmjekHBseVWa3g5fhM9zpnRjIy4PZ91nxdE0KM2qHp_rX2TMwNu2ZDm5zvaKFmv4QVzOBhZZOo1&t=ffffffffb868b5f4" type="text/javascript"></script> <div id="wrapper" class=""> <div id="header"> <div id="skiplink"><a href="#skipToContent">Skip to content</a></div> <a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/"><img src="/web/20120201003019im_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/images/parliament-uk-logo.gif" alt="Parliament UK"/></a> <fieldset class="site-search"> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/accessibility/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">Email alerts</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS feeds</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> </ul> <legend>Site search</legend> <div> <ol> <li> <label for="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_lblSearch" class="access">Search</label> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_txtSearch"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$ctlGlobalHeader$ctlSearch$btnSearch" value="Search" id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalHeader_ctlSearch_btnSearch"/> </div> <ul id="search-options"> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/search/advanced/">Advanced search</a></li> </ul> </fieldset> <div id="navigation"> <ul id="level-1"> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/business/">Parliamentary business</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/">MPs, Lords & offices</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/about/">About Parliament</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/">Get involved</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">Visiting</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Education</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="breadcrumb"> <div class="inner"> <strong>You are here:</strong> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/">Parliament home page</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/">Site information</a></li><li>Glossary</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Glossary </h1> <div class="a-to-z-listing"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=A"><span>A</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=B"><span>B</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=C"><span>C</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=D"><span>D</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=E"><span>E</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=F"><span>F</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=G"><span>G</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=H"><span>H</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=I"><span>I</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=J"><span>J</span></a></li> <li>K</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=L"><span>L</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=M"><span>M</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=N"><span>N</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=O"><span>O</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=P"><span>P</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=Q"><span>Q</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=R"><span>R</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=S"><span>S</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=T"><span>T</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=U"><span>U</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=V"><span>V</span></a></li> <li><span><strong>W</strong></span></li> <li>X</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/?letter=Y"><span>Y</span></a></li> <li>Z</li> </ul>  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Helpful A-Z glossary listing key parliamentary terms and their definition.</p> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl01_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/wash-up/">Wash-up</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl02_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/ways-and-means/">Ways and Means</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl03_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/weatherill-amendment/">Weatherill Amendment</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl04_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/west-lothian-question/">West Lothian question</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl05_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/westminster-hall/">Westminster Hall</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl06_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/westminster-hall-adjournment-debates/">Westminster Hall Adjournment Debates</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl07_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/whips/">Whips</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl08_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/white-paper/">White Paper</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl09_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/will-write-letters/">Will write letters</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl10_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/woolsack/">Woolsack</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl11_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/writ-of-summons/">Writ of summons</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl12_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/writs/">Writs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlBulletList_rptItems_ctl13_hypBulletListItem" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/written-questions/">Written questions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="section-promotion no-image">  <h2><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/email-alerts/">E-alerts</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Details how to register for email alerts and also how to unsubscribe</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion no-image">  <h2><a href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/rss-feeds/">RSS</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>Further information on RSS feeds which lets users view the latest content from a website through a feed reader rather than having to visit the actual site.</p> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related links</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText"> <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/commons/hcio/">Commons Information Office</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/house-of-lords-information-office/">Lords Information Office</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl02_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/outreach-and-training/">Parliamentary Outreach</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl03_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl03_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/education/">Parliament's Education Service</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120201003019/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20120201003019/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ if(tracking.enabled){ try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(tracking.accountID); pageTracker._setDomainName('.parliament.uk'); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err){} } /*]]>*/ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20120201003019js_/http://www.parliament.uk/assets/scripts/lbi_ga.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Glossary - UK Parliament