President of the Storting, Tone W. Trøen. Photo: Storting.
The Storting resumes core parliamentary activities
The Storting has made the decision to resume normal core parliamentary activities as far as possible. However, this will not compromise the infection control measures that have been in place since 11th March.
This means that there will be more sittings in the Chamber than before Easter, though still with the reduced number of 87 Members present. It also means that oral Question Time will resume in the last week of April.
The decision was made by the Storting’s Presidium on Wednesday 8th April after consultation with the parliamentary leaders.
The Storting implemented a series of measures to reduce the risk of spreading infection on 11th March. It was then also determined that Parliament would only deal with matters that it was necessary to make immediate decisions on.
“The Storting will be resuming normal parliamentary activities as far as possible. At the same time, we will be keeping up the strict measures we have taken to prevent infection,” President of the Storting Tone W. Trøen said shortly before Easter.
More sittings in Parliament and Question Time to resume
In practice, this means that there will now be more sittings in the Chamber in the weeks ahead. From Wednesday 29th April, oral Question Time will begin again.
The standing committees are still being encouraged to conduct digital committee meetings. All committee travel – both domestic and foreign – has been suspended until 1st July. Committee hearings are taking place on a written basis or by means of video conferencing.
There will still only be 87 MPs present during sittings in the Chamber, as was the case during the pre-Easter weeks. This arrangement will be reassessed at the end of April.
Infection control measures to continue
All recommended measures relating to hygiene and social distancing will be continued.
The Storting’s public gallery has been closed since 11th March. The intention is to reopen it shortly, but the front row will remain closed, and visitors will be required to sit at least two metres apart.
The decision to cancel all group and school visits will be maintained until the summer recess.
“We are very pleased that we will now be able to resume normal parliamentary activities as far as possible. This will enable us to consider a large number of the matters that were on the original agenda for the spring session. We will still not be able to receive visitors, but I very much look forward to going back to our open door policy for school classes and other visitors at some point in the future.” the President said.