During the wash-up period, the government attempts to pass unfinished business which has sufficient all-party support.
This may mean compromising some aspects of business to ensure that they can be completed, and effectively gives the Opposition and sufficiently large groups of backbenchers a veto on controversial or unpopular measures.
Discussions about which items will progress during wash-up take place between the "usual channels" – the whips and other officials of the government and opposition parties.
In rare cases, there may also be time for private member's bills that have almost completed the legislative process to be passed.
A wash-up period is not mandatory: the Prime Minister may seek permission from the Sovereign in order to dissolve Parliament immediately, in which case all outstanding Parliamentary business will be lost.