House of Commons Debates
490 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 06-20 Jan (10 debates) | ||
| January - 06-20 Jan (10 debates) | ||
| 20 Jan 2022 (3 debates) | ||
|
British Council Staff: Afghanistan
Ministerial Statement
|
Amanda Milling Constituency Con | View |
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Nusrat Ghani Sussex Weald Con | View |
|
Lawfare and UK Court System
General Debate
|
None | View |
| 19 Jan 2022 (1 debate) | ||
|
European Court of Human Rights
Adjournment Debate
|
John Howell Henley Con | View |
| 18 Jan 2022 (1 debate) | ||
|
UK Government Recognition of Somaliland
Adjournment Debate
|
Gavin Williamson Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge Con | View |
| 17 Jan 2022 (1 debate) | ||
|
Foreign Interference: Intelligence and Security
Ministerial Statement
|
Priti Patel Witham Con | View |
| 13 Jan 2022 (1 debate) | ||
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Brendan O'Hara Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber SNP | View |
| 12 Jan 2022 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis
Ministerial Statement
|
Vicky Ford Constituency Con | View |
| 06 Jan 2022 (2 debates) | ||
|
Russia
Ministerial Statement
|
Elizabeth Truss Constituency Con | View |
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Bernard Jenkin Harwich and North Essex Con | View |
| 2021 - 28 Apr - 16 Dec (40 debates) | ||
| December - 02-16 Dec (5 debates) | ||
| 16 Dec 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
FCDO Staffing
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 14 Dec 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Human Rights Day
Adjournment Debate
|
Debbie Abrahams Oldham East and Saddleworth Lab | View |
| 09 Dec 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Consular Support for British Citizens
General Debate
|
Hannah Bardell Livingston SNP | View |
| 06 Dec 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
General Debate
|
Jacob Rees-Mogg North East Somerset Con | View |
| 02 Dec 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Alicia Kearns Rutland and Stamford Con | View |
| November - 03-18 Nov (5 debates) | ||
| 18 Nov 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
British Council: Global Britain
Adjournment Debate
|
John Baron Basildon and Billericay Con | View |
| 15 Nov 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Amnesty International Offices in Hong Kong
Adjournment Debate
|
Andrew Rosindell Romford Reform | View |
| 09 Nov 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 04 Nov 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Tobias Ellwood Bournemouth East Con | View |
| 03 Nov 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
G20 and COP26 World Leaders Summit
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| October - 25-28 Oct (4 debates) | ||
| 28 Oct 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
UK-French Trading Dispute
Ministerial Statement
|
George Eustice Con Con | View |
| 25 Oct 2021 (3 debates) | ||
|
Arrest of Sudanese Prime Minister
Ministerial Statement
|
Vicky Ford Con Con | View |
|
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
|
Abraham Accords
Adjournment Debate
|
Robert Jenrick Newark Reform | View |
| September - 06-23 Sep (8 debates) | ||
| 23 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Human Rights: Kashmir
General Debate
|
Debbie Abrahams Oldham East and Saddleworth Lab | View |
| 21 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Salisbury Incident 2018: Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Priti Patel Witham Con | View |
| 16 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
AUKUS
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| 15 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Joint Committee
General Debate
|
Lisa Nandy Wigan Lab | View |
| 13 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan Policy
Ministerial Statement
|
Victoria Atkins Louth and Horncastle Con | View |
| 09 Sep 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan: FCDO Responses to Members
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 06 Sep 2021 (2 debates) | ||
|
Afghanistan
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
|
Afghanistan: FCDO Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Esher and Walton Con | View |
| August - 18 Aug (1 debate) | ||
| 18 Aug 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan
General Debate
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| July - 08-20 Jul (5 debates) | ||
| 20 Jul 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Cyber-attack: Microsoft
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 15 Jul 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Beijing Winter Olympics and Chinese Government Sanctions
General Debate
|
Tim Loughton East Worthing and Shoreham Con | View |
| 14 Jul 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
COP26
General Debate
|
None | View |
| 13 Jul 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
International Aid: Treasury Update
General Debate
|
Lindsay Hoyle Chorley Speaker | View |
| 08 Jul 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| June - 07-30 Jun (8 debates) | ||
| 30 Jun 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Estimates Day
General Debate
|
Sarah Champion Rotherham Lab | View |
| 17 Jun 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative
General Debate
|
Anthony Mangnall North West Cambridgeshire Con | View |
| 16 Jun 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
G7 and NATO Summits
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| 14 Jun 2021 (2 debates) | ||
|
Ethiopia
Ministerial Statement
|
James Duddridge Rochford and Southend East Con | View |
|
Uyghur Tribunal: London
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams South West Bedfordshire Con | View |
| 08 Jun 2021 (2 debates) | ||
|
British Council
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams South West Bedfordshire Con | View |
|
0.7% Official Development Assistance Target
General Debate
|
Andrew Mitchell Sutton Coldfield Con | View |
| 07 Jun 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Official Development Assistance
General Debate
|
Andrew Mitchell Sutton Coldfield Con | View |
| May - 12-24 May (3 debates) | ||
| 24 May 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Belarus: Interception of Aircraft
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Constituency Con | View |
| 19 May 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Israel and Gaza: Ceasefire
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 12 May 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Violence in Israel and Palestine
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| April - 28 Apr (1 debate) | ||
| 28 Apr 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Government Support for India
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Waveney Con | View |