Westminster Hall debates: 16 April 2013

The debates were among 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: 16 April 2013

9.30 - 11am: Off-gas Grid Households

Sarah Newton, Conservative MP for Truro and Falmouth, moved a debate on off-gas grid households. The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Michael Fallon, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Off-gas Grid Households
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Off-gas Grid Households
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Energy

11 - 11.30am: Pupil Premium

Sir Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, moved a debate on free school meals and the pupil premium. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Matthew Hancock, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Pupil Premium
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Pupil Premium
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Education

2.30 - 4pm: AS-Levels and A-Levels

Seema Malhotra, Labour (Co-op) MP for Feltham and Heston, moved a debate on proposed changes to AS-Levels and A-Levels. The Minister for Schools, Mr David Laws, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on AS-Levels and A-Levels
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on AS-Levels and A-Levels
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Education

4 - 4.30pm: Persecution of Christians

Naomi Long, Alliance MP for Belfast East, moved a debate on the persecution of Christians in Africa and the Middle East. The Minister for Europe, Mr David Lidington, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Persecution of Christians
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Persecution of Christians
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: International affairs

4.30 - 5pm: Nursery Funding

Julian Sturdy, Conservative MP for York Outer, moved a debate on nursery funding. The Minister for Schools, Mr David Laws, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Nursery Funding
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Nursery Funding
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Pre-school education

Westminster Hall debates

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays there are two one and a half hour debates and three half hour debates in Westminster Hall. 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.