Westminster Hall debates: 23 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: 23 April 2013

9.30-11am: Accident and Emergency Waiting Times

Ann Clwyd, Labour MP for Cynon Valley, moved a debate on A & E waiting times. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Anna Soubry, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on A & E Waiting Times
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on A & E Waiting Times
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Health Services

11-11.30am: Under-Occupancy Penalty (Wigan)

Yvonne Fovargue, Labour MP for Makerfield, moved a debate on the under-occupancy penalty in Wigan. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Under-Occupancy Penalty (Wigan)
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Under-Occupancy Penalty (Wigan)
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Housing Supply

2.30-4pm: Reservists

Bob Stewart, Conservative MP for Beckenham, moved a debate on army reservists. The Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr Andrew Robathan, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Reservists
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Reservists
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Armed Forces

4-4.30pm: Sharia Law

Kris Hopkins, Conservative MP for Keighley, moved a debate on Sharia law in the UK. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Mrs Helen Grant, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Sharia Law
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Sharia Law
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Administration of Justice

4.30-5pm: Health Inequalities

Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing, Southall, moved a debate on health inequalities. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Anna Soubry, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Health Inequalities
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Health Inequalities
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Health Services

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.