Westminster Hall debates: 6 January 2015

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.

Morning schedule

9.30-11am – Effect of the CfD allocation process on offshore wind developments

Mr Mike Weir, Scottish National MP for Angus, moved a debate on the effect of the CfD allocation process on offshore wind developments. The Assistant Whip to the Treasury Department, Mr Ben Wallace, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on the Effect of the CfD allocation process on offshore wind developments
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Offshore Wind Developments
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Renewable energy

11-11.30am – Government policy on treatment and management of late stage hepatitis C

Stephen Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North, moved a debate on the Government policy on treatment and management of late stage hepatitis C. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Jane Ellison, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on the Government policy on treatment and management of late stage hepatitis C
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Late Stage Hepatitis C
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Health services and medicine

Afternoon schedule

2.30-4pm – Economic growth and coastal towns

John Pugh, Liberal Democrat MP for Southport, moved a debate on Economic growth and coastal towns.  The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Penny Mordaunt, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on the Economic growth and coastal towns
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Coastal Towns
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Business, industry and consumers

4-4.30pm – Phone and broadband coverage in Herefordshire

Jesse Norman, Conservative MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, moved a debate on Phone and the broadband coverage in Herefordshire.  The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, Mr Edward Vaizey, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Phone and the broadband coverage in Herefordshire
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Phone and Broadband Coverage (Herefordshire)
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Culture, media and sport

4.30-5pm – Carbon price support and incentives to land reclamation

Sandra Osborne, Labour MP for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, moved a debate on Carbon price support and incentives to land reclamation. The Minister for Business and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock, responded on behalf of the Government.

• Watch Parliament TV: Debate on Carbon price support and incentives to land reclamation
• Read Commons Hansard: Debate on Carbon Price Support (Land reclamation)
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Business, industry and consumers

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

This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.