(10 years, 11 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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I am sorry that I missed the earlier remarks about 18-year-olds and the £700 cut in funding, which will mostly affect people in poorer postcodes. Does my hon. Friend the Minister accept that if the schools budget was increased by 0.8% rather than 1%, there would have been no need for a 17.5% cut in 18-plus funding to Worthing college and other sixth-form colleges?
Order. The Minister having sat down, I am bringing this debate to an end.
I want to put on record—an unadvisable thing to do to any statement from the Chair—that more than 20 Members were present for a half-hour debate, which is extremely unusual and indicates the importance that many hon. Members attach to the subject. I apologise to the Minister and the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy) for the manner in which the debate was interrupted by a Division in the House.