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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 12 Jan - 27 Apr (26 debates) | ||
| April - 13-27 Apr (6 debates) | ||
| 27 Apr 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Ministerial Statement
|
Tulip Siddiq Hampstead and Highgate Lab | View |
| 26 Apr 2021 (2 debates) | ||
|
ODA Budget
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
|
Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Esher and Walton Con | View |
| 22 Apr 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Human Rights: Xinjiang
General Debate
|
Nusrat Ghani Sussex Weald Con | View |
| 20 Apr 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Afghanistan
Ministerial Statement
|
Tobias Ellwood Wantage Con | View |
| 13 Apr 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Chinese Government Sanctions on UK Citizens
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams East Surrey Con | View |
| March - 02-25 Mar (11 debates) | ||
| 25 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Conflict in Tigray Region of Ethiopia
Adjournment Debate
|
Helen Hayes Dulwich and West Norwood Lab | View |
| 22 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Human Rights Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Esher and Walton Con | View |
| 18 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Siobhain McDonagh Mitcham and Morden Lab | View |
| 16 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Integrated Review
Ministerial Statement
|
Boris Johnson Uxbridge and South Ruislip Con | View |
| 15 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
UK Renewables: Critical Minerals
Adjournment Debate
|
Alexander Stafford Rother Valley Lab | View |
| 10 Mar 2021 (2 debates) | ||
|
Hong Kong: Electoral Reforms
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Constituency Con | View |
|
Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
Adjournment Debate
|
Daniel Kawczynski Shrewsbury and Atcham Con | View |
| 04 Mar 2021 (3 debates) | ||
|
Counter-Daesh Update
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Constituency Con | View |
|
British Council and the Integrated Review
Adjournment Debate
|
John Baron Basildon and Billericay Con | View |
|
Church Commissioners
General Debate
|
Kerry McCarthy Bristol East Lab | View |
| 02 Mar 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Yemen: Aid Funding
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| February - 02-09 Feb (5 debates) | ||
| 09 Feb 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Tobias Ellwood Bolton West Con | View |
| 08 Feb 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Yemen
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 04 Feb 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Treatment of Uyghur Women: Xinjiang Detention Camps
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Sleaford and North Hykeham Con | View |
| 03 Feb 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Exiting the European Union (Sanctions)
General Debate
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| 02 Feb 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Myanmar
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Hyndburn Con | View |
| January - 12-27 Jan (4 debates) | ||
| 27 Jan 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Russian Federation: Human Rights
Ministerial Statement
|
Roger Gale Herne Bay and Sandwich Con | View |
| 26 Jan 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Detention of Anoosheh Ashoori in Iran
Adjournment Debate
|
Janet Daby Lewisham East Lab | View |
| 21 Jan 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Church Commissioners
General Debate
|
None | View |
| 12 Jan 2021 (1 debate) | ||
|
Xinjiang: Forced Labour
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Arundel and South Downs Con | View |
| 2020 - 09 Jul - 16 Dec (24 debates) | ||
| December - 07-16 Dec (4 debates) | ||
| 16 Dec 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Border Carbon Adjustment Tariffs and Decarbonisation
Adjournment Debate
|
Jerome Mayhew Broadland and Fakenham Con | View |
| 09 Dec 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
UN Mission in Mali: Armed Forces Deployment
Ministerial Statement
|
James Heappey Constituency Con | View |
| 08 Dec 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Arrest of Egyptian Human Rights Advocates
Adjournment Debate
|
Rushanara Ali Bethnal Green and Stepney Lab | View |
| 07 Dec 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Hong Kong: Sentencing of Pro-democracy Activists
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Wilts Wiltshire Con | View |
| November - 03-26 Nov (7 debates) | ||
| 26 Nov 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Official Development Assistance
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Constituency Con | View |
| 23 Nov 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Persecution of Ahmadis
Adjournment Debate
|
Imran Ahmad Khan Wakefield Lab | View |
| 12 Nov 2020 (2 debates) | ||
|
Hong Kong
Ministerial Statement
|
Nigel Adams Bedford Con | View |
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
Rushanara Ali Bethnal Green and Stepney Lab | View |
| 09 Nov 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Jonathan Taylor: SBM Offshore
Ministerial Statement
|
Wendy Morton Aldridge-Brownhills Con | View |
| 05 Nov 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
International Covid-19 Response: Innovation and Access to Treatment
General Debate
|
Wendy Chamberlain North East Fife Lib Dem | View |
| 03 Nov 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Ministerial Statement
|
James Cleverly Braintree Con | View |
| September - 02-24 Sep (7 debates) | ||
| 24 Sep 2020 (3 debates) | ||
|
Belarus: Presidential Elections
Ministerial Statement
|
Dominic Raab Esher and Walton Con | View |
|
Occupied Palestinian Territories
General Debate
|
Stephen Kinnock Aberafan Maesteg Lab | View |
|
Backbench Business
General Debate
|
None | View |
| 21 Sep 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
ARM: Foreign Acquisition
Adjournment Debate
|
Daniel Zeichner Cambridge Lab | View |
| 10 Sep 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Church Commissioners
General Debate
|
James Sunderland Constituency Party | View |
| 03 Sep 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
South China Sea: Freedom of Navigation
Adjournment Debate
|
Andrew Bowie West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Con | View |
| 02 Sep 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
General Debate
|
Dominic Raab 13:50:00 Con | View |
| July - 09-22 Jul (6 debates) | ||
| 22 Jul 2020 (1 debate) | ||
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Intelligence and Security Committee: Russia Report
General Debate
|
Nick Thomas-Symonds Torfaen Lab | View |
| 20 Jul 2020 (2 debates) | ||
|
Endangered Species: Developing Countries
General Debate
|
Chris Grayling Berkshire West Con | View |
|
China
General Debate
|
Dominic Raab Arundel and South Downs Con | View |
| 13 Jul 2020 (1 debate) | ||
|
Sale of Arms: War in Yemen
General Debate
|
Emily Thornberry Islington South and Finsbury Lab | View |
| 09 Jul 2020 (2 debates) | ||
|
RAF Croughton Expansion: Diplomatic Implications
Adjournment Debate
|
Andrea Leadsom South Northamptonshire Con | View |
|
MAIN Estimates 2020-21
General Debate
|
Sarah Champion Rotherham Lab | View |