House of Commons Debates
191 main chamber debates on legislation and government business
What are House of Commons Debates?
House of Commonsdebates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons, where MPs scrutinise legislation, debate government policy, and hold ministers accountable. These debates are central to the UK's democratic process and cover everything from new bills to urgent matters of national importance.
- Debates cover bills at various stages of the legislative process, from first reading to final approval
- MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and propose amendments to legislation
- Urgent debates address time-sensitive issues requiring immediate parliamentary attention
- General debates allow wide-ranging discussion on government policy and current affairs
Types of House of Commons debates:
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Ministerial Statements: Government ministers announce major policy decisions. Minister speaks -> Shadow Secretary responds -> MPs ask questions.
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Urgent Questions: MPs ask pressing questions requiring immediate government response. MP asks -> Minister answers -> Follow-up questions.
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Adjournment Debates: End-of-day debates where an MP raises a constituency concern. MP presents issue (15-30 mins) -> Minister responds.
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General Debates: Multiple MPs debate legislation, budgets, or policies. Various speakers -> May include minister/shadow responses -> Sometimes ends with vote.
| Debate | Lead MP | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 - 17 Jan - 02 Dec (24 debates) | ||
| December - 02 Dec (1 debate) | ||
| 02 Dec 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Migration and Border Security
Ministerial Statement
|
Yvette Cooper Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley Lab | View |
| November - 06 Nov (1 debate) | ||
| 06 Nov 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Small Boat Crossings
Ministerial Statement
|
Angela Eagle Wallasey Lab | View |
| October - 14-21 Oct (3 debates) | ||
| 21 Oct 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
St Helena: UK Immigration
Ministerial Statement
|
Stephen Doughty Cardiff South and Penarth Labour (Co-op) | View |
| 14 Oct 2024 (2 debates) | ||
|
Gibraltar-Spain Border Checks
Ministerial Statement
|
Anneliese Dodds Oxford East Labour (Co-op) | View |
|
Afghan Special Forces Relocation Review
Ministerial Statement
|
Luke Pollard Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Labour (Co-op) | View |
| July - 22-23 Jul (3 debates) | ||
| 23 Jul 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration and Home Affairs
General Debate
|
None | View |
| 22 Jul 2024 (2 debates) | ||
|
Border Security and Asylum
Ministerial Statement
|
Yvette Cooper Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley Lab | View |
|
NATO and European Political Community Meetings
Ministerial Statement
|
Keir Starmer Holborn and St Pancras Lab | View |
| May - 01-24 May (4 debates) | ||
| 24 May 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Tribunal and Inquiries
General Debate
|
Gareth Bacon Orpington Con | View |
| 22 May 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration and Asylum
General Debate
|
Bob Seely Isle of Wight Con | View |
| 08 May 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Passport e-Gates Network Outage
Ministerial Statement
|
Tom Pursglove Corby Con | View |
| 01 May 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Tom Pursglove Braintree Con | View |
| April - 15-26 Apr (5 debates) | ||
| 26 Apr 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
The British Nationality (Irish Citizens) Bill
Bill Debate
|
Gavin Robinson Belfast East DUP | View |
| 17 Apr 2024 (3 debates) | ||
|
Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
Ministerial Statement
|
David Rutley Stockport Con | View |
|
Afghan Refugees: Deportation from Pakistan
Ministerial Statement
|
Anne-Marie Trevelyan Con Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | View |
|
Illegal Migration Bill - Exemption for agents, allies and employees of the UK Overseas Territories
Bill Debate
|
Michael Tomlinson Mid Dorset and North Poole Con | View |
| 15 Apr 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Asylum and Immigration (EU Withdrawal) Bill - Amendments 3B, 3C, 6B, 7B, 9, 10B
Bill Debate
|
Michael Tomlinson Mid Dorset and North Poole Con | View |
| March - 04-15 Mar (3 debates) | ||
| 15 Mar 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Pet Animals (Protection and Welfare) Bill - Second Reading of the entire Bill
Bill Debate
|
Selaine Saxby North Devon Con | View |
| 05 Mar 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill: Instruction
General Debate
|
Tom Pursglove North East Cambridgeshire Con | View |
| 04 Mar 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
Ministerial Statement
|
Tom Pursglove Corby Con | View |
| February - 20 Feb (1 debate) | ||
| 20 Feb 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration Rules and Border Security
Ministerial Statement
|
Tom Pursglove Constituency Con | View |
| January - 17-26 Jan (3 debates) | ||
| 26 Jan 2024 (1 debate) | ||
|
British Irish Citizenship Rights Act - Second Reading of the Bill
Bill Debate
|
Gavin Robinson Belfast East DUP | View |
| 17 Jan 2024 (2 debates) | ||
|
Illegal Migration Bill - Third Reading
Bill Debate
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
|
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill
Bill Debate
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 2023 - 20 Mar - 12 Dec (26 debates) | ||
| December - 04-12 Dec (4 debates) | ||
| 12 Dec 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration and Asylum Bill - Clause dealing with Rwanda
Bill Debate
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 11 Dec 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Former Afghan Special Forces: Deportation
Ministerial Statement
|
James Heappey Constituency Con | View |
| 06 Dec 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
UK-Rwanda Partnership
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 04 Dec 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Legal Migration
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| November - 08-28 Nov (3 debates) | ||
| 28 Nov 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Net Migration Figures
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 15 Nov 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Illegal Immigration
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 08 Nov 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Pakistan: Evacuation of Afghans
Ministerial Statement
|
Johnny Mercer City of Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport Con | View |
| October - 24 Oct (2 debates) | ||
| 24 Oct 2023 (2 debates) | ||
|
Illegal Migration
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
|
Prisons
General Debate
|
Damian Hinds East Hampshire Con | View |
| September - 05-18 Sep (2 debates) | ||
| 18 Sep 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
No formal bill name, but related to the process of setting precedence for Private Members’ Bills on ...
Bill Debate
|
Christopher Chope Christchurch Con | View |
| 05 Sep 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Illegal Migration Update
Ministerial Statement
|
None | View |
| July - 17 Jul (1 debate) | ||
| 17 Jul 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Nationality and Borders Bill - Clause 60 - Ten-year strategy on refugees and human trafficking
Bill Debate
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| June - 05-29 Jun (6 debates) | ||
| 29 Jun 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Migration and Economic Development Partnership
Ministerial Statement
|
Suella Braverman Fareham and Waterlooville Reform | View |
| 27 Jun 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Illegal Migration Bill: Economic Impact Assessment
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 15 Jun 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Migration
General Debate
|
Dan Carden Liverpool Walton Lab | View |
| 06 Jun 2023 (2 debates) | ||
|
The British Nationality Bill - Clause 1
Bill Debate
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
|
British Nationality Bill - Clause 1
Bill Debate
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 05 Jun 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Illegal Migration
Ministerial Statement
|
Suella Braverman Fareham and Waterlooville Reform | View |
| May - 11-25 May (3 debates) | ||
| 25 May 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Net Migration Figures
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 24 May 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Student Visas
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 11 May 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
No Recourse to Public Funds
General Debate
|
None | View |
| April - 20 Apr (1 debate) | ||
| 20 Apr 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Fishing Industry: Visas for Foreign Workers
Ministerial Statement
|
Sarah Dines Constituency Con | View |
| March - 20-29 Mar (4 debates) | ||
| 29 Mar 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Illegal Migration Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| 27 Mar 2023 (1 debate) | ||
|
Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill - Amendment 133, page 40, line 7
Bill Debate
|
Bill Cash Stone Con | View |
| 20 Mar 2023 (2 debates) | ||
|
Immigration and Nationality Fees (Exemption for NHS Clinical Staff)
General Debate
|
Rob Roberts Dulwich and West Norwood Lab | View |
|
Ways and Means
General Debate
|
Michelle Donelan Wells Con | View |