Westminster Hall debates: 25 June 2013
25 June 2013
MPs debated the performance of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the privatisation of Royal Mail on Tuesday 25 June 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: 25 June 2013
9.30-11am: East of England Ambulance Service
Priti Patel, Conservative MP for Witham, moved a debate on the performance of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Anna Soubry, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on East of England Ambulance Service
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on East of England Ambulance Service
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Health services and medicine
11-11.30am: Habitats Directive (Bats and Churches)
Sir Tony Baldry, Conservative MP for Banbury, moved a debate on bats and churches and the effect of the Habitats Directive. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Habitats Directive (Bats and Churches)
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Habitats Directive (Bats and Churches)
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Agriculture, animals, food and rural affairs
2.30-4pm: Royal Mail
Katy Clark, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, moved a debate on the privatisation of Royal Mail. The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Michael Fallon, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Royal Mail
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Royal Mail
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Postal services
4-4.30pm: Mitochondrial Disease
Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, moved a debate on new techniques for preventing mitochondrial disease. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Anna Soubry, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Mitochondrial Disease
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Mitochondrial Disease
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Diseases
4.30-5pm: Horn Lane, Acton
Angie Bray, Conservative MP for Ealing Central and Acton, moved a debate on pollution levels in Horn Lane, Acton. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, responded on behalf of the Government.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Horn Lane, Acton
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Horn Lane, Acton
- Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Pollution
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 proceedings from the public gallery
UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.