Westminster Hall Debates: 11 June 2013

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

Schedule of Westminster Hall debates: 11 June 2013

9.30am - 11am: First World War Commemoration

Mr Keith Simpson, Conservative MP for Broadland, moved a debate on Parliament and commemorating the First World War. The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Hugh Robertson, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: First World War Commemoration
• Read Commons Hansard: First World War Commemoration
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Armed forces

11am - 11.30am: Ukrainian Holodomor

Pauline Latham, Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire, moved a debate on the Ukrainian Holodomor. The Minister for Europe, Mr David Lidington, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Ukrainian Holodomor
• Read Commons Hansard: Ukrainian Holodomor
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Eastern Europe

2.30am - 4pm: SMEs (Public Sector Procurement)

Huw Irranca-Davies, Labour MP for Ogmore, moved a debate on SMEs and public sector procurement. The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, Miss Chloe Smith, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: SMEs (Public Sector Procurement)
• Read Commons Hansard: SMEs (Public Sector Procurement)
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Business, industry and consumers

4pm - 4.30pm: Prepayment Meters

Mr Mike Weir, Scottish National MP for Angus, moved a debate on fuel poverty and use of prepayment meters. The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, Gregory Barker, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Prepayment Meters
• Read Commons Hansard: Prepayment Meters
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Fuel poverty

4.30pm - 5pm: Gangmasters Licensing Authority (Civil Fines)

Stephen Barclay, Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire, moved a debate on the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and power to impose civil fines. The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr David Heath, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Gangmasters Licensing Authority (Civil Fines)
• Read Commons Hansard: Gangmasters Licensing Authority (Civil Fines)
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Crime, civil law, justice and rights

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.