Westminster Hall debates: 4 December 2012
4 December 2012 (updated on 4 December 2012)
MPs debated Ford UK's duty of care to Visteon pensioners and the lessons on gangs and youth violence from the August 2011 riots on Tuesday 4 December 2012.
The debates were two of five Westminster Hall debates that gave MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government Minister.
Schedule of Westminster Hall debates: 4 December 2012
9.30-11am – Duty of care of Ford UK to Visteon pensioners
Mike Freer, Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, moved a debate on the duty of care of Ford UK to Visteon pensioners; Visteon was the global automotive component operation of the Ford Motor Company. Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Steve Webb, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Ford UK's duty of care to Visteon Pensioners
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Ford UK's duty of care to Visteon Pensioners
11-11.30am – Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria
Philip Hollobone, Conservative MP for Kettering, moved a debate on immigration from two new European Union accession countries, Romania and Bulgaria. The Minister for Immigration, Mark Harper, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Immigration from Romania and Bulgaria
2.30-4pm – Gangs and youth violence: lessons from the August 2011 riots
Karen Buck, Labour MP for Westminster North, moved a debate on the lessons learned from the August 2011 riots on gangs and serious youth violence. The Minister of State, Home Department, Jeremy Browne, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on gangs and youth violence
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on gangs and youth violence
4-4.30pm – Government policy on closure of Remploy Factories
William Bain, Labour MP for Glasgow North, moved a debate on the closure of Remploy factories. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, responded on behalf of the Government.
4.30-5pm – Implementation of extra-statutory concession A19
Nigel Mills, Conservative MP for Amber Valley, moved a debate on the implementation of HM Revenue & Custom's A19 concession. Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on extra-statutory concession A19
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on extra-statutory concession A19
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.