Westminster Hall Debates: 3 December 2013

MPs debated future ships for the Royal Navy and local authority funding on Tuesday 3 December 2013.

The debates were among five scheduled Westminster Hall debates that gave MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a Government minister.

Westminster Hall debates: 3 December 2013

9.30am - 11am: Royal Navy Ships

Mr Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, moved a debate on Future ships for the Royal Navy. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Dunne MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

11am - 11.30am: Mayfields New Town

Nicholas Soames, Conservative MP for Mid Sussex, moved a debate on a proposed Mayfield new town in West Sussex. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Kris Hopkins MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

2.30pm - 4pm: Local Authority Funding

Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, moved a debate on Local authority funding holdbacks. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Brandon Lewis MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

4pm - 4.30pm: Government Contracts

Meg Hillier, Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, moved a debate on managing Government contracts. The Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Nick Hurd MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

4.30pm - 5pm: Roaccutane

Sir Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, moved a debate on the adverse psychiatric effects of the Roaccutane form of isotretinion. The Minister of State for the Department of Health, Norman Lamb MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

Related Information

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.

Watching Westminster Hall debates from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public galleries.

How to attend a debate in the Chamber or in Westminster Hall

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