Westminster Hall

HC Deb 14 December 1999 vol 341 c121W

52. Mr. Pike

To ask the President of the Council what assessment she has made of the experiment of the House sitting in Westminster Hall. [101271]

Mrs. Beckett

The experiment began on 30 November, and it is too early to make a firm assessment. However, debates in Westminster Hall have been as lively and well attended as those in the Chamber, and the new forum already appears to offer Members increased opportunities for debate. The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons has agreed toevaluate the experiment as a whole before the end of the session as well as keeping a "watching brief' on proceedings.