Attend debates - UK Parliament

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href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/attend/committees/">Watch committees</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Attend debates </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20111121181542im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_986.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>UK residents and overseas visitors may watch debates for free on current issues or proposed new laws in both Houses by visiting the public galleries. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <p>The galleries are open to the public when the Houses are sitting (meeting), which is from Monday to Thursday and on Sitting Fridays, with differing times for each House. The galleries are not open during recess, when neither House is sitting.</p> <h3>Question Time</h3> <p>In both Houses, the busiest time is during Question Time. In the Commons it is Prime Minister's Question Time. Free tickets are necessary to ensure entrance, and are only issued to UK residents who contact their MP or a Lord to request them. Overseas visitors and UK residents without tickets can queue but will only gain entrance if there is space after ticket-holders.</p> <h3>Other debates</h3> <p>Tickets are not required at other periods and there is a public queue for both UK residents and foreign visitors - outside the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. A wait of one or two hours is common (although it's usually less for the House of Lords).</p> <h3>Westminster Hall debates</h3> <p>MPs also debate outside their main chamber in Westminster Hall, in adjournment debates.</p> <h3>Lords public gallery</h3> <p>Visitors to the Lords public gallery will be directed to a separate queue by the Cromwell Green visitor entrance. No tickets are issued, although be aware that Question Time in the Lords is the busiest period.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2> </h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <strong>Bills before Parliament</strong>   <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Browse a list of all Bills currently before Parliament and keep up to date with their progress. Also find amendment papers and other Bill documents. Sign up to an email alert or use our RSS feeds.</p> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" rel="external" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111121181542/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/">Bills online</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2> </h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <strong>Watch committees</strong>   <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Committees, made up of MPs or Lords, examine issues in detail such as new legislation or topics like the economy. Watch democracy in action by attending a public committee session.</p> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/attend/committees/">Committees</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_pnlMainImageThumb" class="itemImage missing"> </div> <div class="itemText">  <strong>Sitting times</strong>   <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <p><strong>House of Commons - main Chamber</strong> </p> <p>Monday: 2.30pm-10.30pm <br/>Tuesday: 2.30pm-10.30pm <br/>Wednesday: 11.30am-7.30pm<br/>Thursday: 10.30am-6.30pm <br/>Sitting Friday: 9.30am-3pm</p> <p><strong>Westminster Hall</strong> </p> <p>Tuesday: 9.30am-2pm <br/>Wednesday: 9.30am-11.30am & 2.30pm-5pm <br/>Thursday: 2.30pm-5.30pm </p> <p><strong>House of Lords</strong> </p> <p>Monday: 2.30pm-10pm <br/>Tuesday: 2.30pm-10pm <br/>Wednesday: 3pm-10pm <br/>Thursday: 11am-7.30pm <br/>Sitting Friday: from 10am-close of business </p> <p><strong>NB:</strong> Please note that all finishing times are approximate. These times do not apply during recess, when neither House is sitting. </p></div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl02_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/business-faq-page/recess-dates/">See current recess dates</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20111121181542/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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Attend debates - UK Parliament