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Westminster Hall debates: 6 December 2011

7 December 2011 (updated on 7 December 2011)

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Westminster Hall debates provide MPs with an opportunity to debate local or national issues and to receive a response from a government Minister.

Westminster Hall debates

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays there are two one and a half hour debates and three half hour debates.  The longer debates are intended for broader subjects where a number of MPs will want to speak. The shorter debates may focus on an issue that an MP may want to raise about their constituency.

Two ballots are held on the Wednesday of the previous week for each type of debate; MPs may enter into both ballots but can only be successful in one.

Each government department responds to the debates every other week according to a rota.

The Chair is taken by a member of the Panel of Chairs, with the same duties and powers conferred on Deputy Speakers.

Westminster Hall debates: 6 December 2011

Five debates were held in Westminster Hall. Watch and read the views expressed by MPs during the debates via the links to Parliament TV and Commons Hansard. Also, find more information about current parliamentary material in the Topics section on the Parliament website.

9.30-11.00am Sport and youth crime

Damian Collins, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, moved a debate on the effects of sport in reducing youth crime which received an answer from the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert.

11.00-12.30pm Mental health of veterans

Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, moved a debate on the mental health of veterans which received an answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Andrew Robathan.

12.30-1.00pm Arctic convoy veterans medal

Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, moved a debate on a proposal for an Arctic convoy veterans medal which received an answer from the Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Defence, Andrew Robathan.

1.00-1.30pm Overnight staffing of police stations

Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, moved a debate on overnight staffing of police stations which received an answer from the Minister for Policy and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert.

1.30-2.00pm Zimbabwe

Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire, moved a debate on Government policy on Zimbabwe which received an answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Henry Bellingham.

Westminster Hall debates

Westminster Hall adjournment debates allow MPs to discuss issues of local or personal interest which rarely have time to be debated in the main Chamber of the House of Commons. MPs can discuss a variety of issues and receive a response from a government Minister.

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