David Amess
Main Page: David Amess (Conservative - Southend West)(12 years, 8 months ago)
Westminster HallWestminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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Order. The winding-up speeches will begin at 4.55 pm. Seven or eight colleagues wish to speak, so I hope that everyone will share the time available. If hon. Members speak for 10 or 15 minutes, that will be fair.
My hon. Friend makes an extremely interesting point. I have come across one or two honorary consuls, such as a former one in Mexico who is involved in a huge development in that country and knows the whole business community backwards. Other than a few expenses, honorary consuls come for free to the UK Government, so we should appoint more. My hon. Friend is exactly right.