Westminster Hall Archive

Call for democratic rule in Turks and Caicos Islands

David Clelland has pressed the Foreign Office on when democratic rule would be restored to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Parliament should 'move to east London'

Parliament should vacate the Palace of Westminster and move to east London as a way of reconnecting with voters following the expenses scandal, two MPs have suggested.

MP urges football club reforms

The government should introduce stricter regulations on football clubs to prevent them being managed in a "reckless" fashion, MPs heard yesterday.

Fresh hope for fuel duty on petrol prices

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael pressed the government to address "unfair" fuel prices in the Northern Isles and other remote areas.

Hollobone compares burka to paper bag

A Conservative MP has said wearing the burka is "the religious equivalent of going around with a paper bag over your head with two holes for the eyes".

EMA payments 'support working class students'

Paying young people from middle and low income homes to continue in education past 16 has been a success, a Labour MP has claimed.

EU-Colombia trade 'legitimises' human rights abuse

A Labour MP has called on the British government to end political, diplomatic and military support to Colombia.

'Perverse' extremists threaten Horn of Africa

The British government should more "interventionist, robust and proactive" and stop British nationals sending funds to Somalia to fund terrorist activities, a Tory MP has said.

Air passenger duty 'unfair' to Afro-Caribbeans

A Labour MP has called on the government to create a special air passenger duty band for Commonwealth countries.

MP calls for trafficking watchdog

Conservative MP Anthony Steen (Totnes) has called for the establishment of a national human trafficking watchdog, to strengthen the UK's anti-trafficking programme.

Young unemployed 'need early intervention'

Young people need personalised specialist help to find work, a Conservative spokesman has said.

DWP avoiding 'legal and moral' benefit obligations

A Conservative MP has accused the government of breaching the law by not paying benefits to people living abroad.

Local radio stations 'threatened by switchover'

Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem, Orkney and Shetland) opened a Westminster Hall debate on securing the future of local radio yesterday.

'Freeloading millionaries' should not sit in parliament

The government was accused of presiding over a system that allows rich people to avoid paying tax yesterday.

CSA 'held back' by staff turnover

The Child Support Agency is still suffering from a lack of staff retention and high turnover, an MP said yesterday.

Parliament has 'lost its identity'

A report from a group of MPs detailing how to reform the Commons provides a blueprint for a better and more effective parliament, MPs were told today.

MPs debate support for pensioners

Following a recent report by the Commons work and pensions committee on tackling pensioner poverty, a Westminster Hall debate has focused on the government's response.

DUP demands celebration of King James Bible

An emotional and interesting religious debate took place on Wednesday in Westminster Hall as David Simpson MP called on the government to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.

Older lorries are 'death traps for drivers'

A former cabinet minister has called for urgent action on seatbelts in lorries after the death of a constituent.

Gilroy bashes Tories over unemployment

Hughes 'not persuaded' over train line

North Southwark and Bermondsey Simon Hughes initiated Wesminster Hall debate yesterday on the future of the South London Line.

Government 'optimistic' about Cyprus settlement

An MP has called for a settlement to the continuing dispute between Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus.

Local people 'squeezed out of countryside'

The government should end council tax breaks for second home owners, an MP said yesterday.

Offshore oil and gas face 'quadruple whammy'

The UK's oil and gas industries face a "quadruple whammy of high costs, low prices, lack of affordable credit and a global recession," MPs were told yesterday.

Cross-party agreement on death penalty

A Westminster Hall debate on the global abolition of the death penalty saw agreement between the parties.

Sri Lankan camps are 'crime against humanity'

While the guns may be silent in Sri Lanka for the first time in 26 years, the price of peace could not be higher, a Labour MP said yesterday.

Working families 'feeling the pinch' in recession

A Labour MP has called on the government to do more for working class families during the recession.

'Licensing areas' needed to control landords

A Labour MP has said that there is currently "no legal means of compelling landlords to manage their properties satisfactorily".

Electoral register 'threatened' by systemic abuse

Simon Burns initiated a Westminster Hall debate on the integrity of electoral register on Tuesday.

Carter Ruck's 'gag attempt' condemned

A government minister has reassured MPs that it is "not possible to fetter" parliament and parliamentary discussion.

MP pushes for supermarket watchdog

Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George has put pressure on the government to introduce an independent grocery regulator.

UK-Russia relations 'deeply frozen'

The government has failed in most, if not all of its foreign policy objectives towards Russia over the last three years, Greg Hands has told MPs.

Iran guilty of 'unacceptable' behaviour

The reaction of the Iranian government to protests that followed the re-election of President Ahmadinejad was "entirely unacceptable", Ivan Lewis has said.

'Great teachers transform lives', says MP

The quality of a country's education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers, MPs have been told.

Equitable Life 'scandal' reduced saving confidence

The "scandal" of Equitable Life has reduced people's confidence in saving for retirement, MPs have been told.

Taxpayers 'may pay for runway'

Claims that the government is to subsidise the third runway at Heathrow came under scrutiny during a Westminster Hall debate today.

Funding withdrawal is 'wrong message' for deaf sport

Deaf people have "aspirations like anyone else" and under current arrangements find it "impossible or very scarring" to take part in sport, Iain Duncan Smith told MPs today.