The House of Commons Chamber

PEOPLE E V EN T S THE HOUSE OF PLA C COMMONS CHAMBER ES The Chamber TRADITIONS IN The House of Commons Chamber is where Members of THE CHAMBER Parliament (MPs) debate and vote on important issues. MPs are not allowed to speak The main business of the House takes place here and can in the space involve MPs putting questions to government ministers, between two red lines running debating issues of national importance and passing along the length legislation. of the Chamber. It has been claimed these lines are The Speaker’s Chair and the Table of the House provide a focal point traditionally two in the Chamber at its north end. There are green leather benches swords’ lengths apart to prevent on either side where MPs sit: looking towards the Speaker’s Chair MPs duelling the government sit on the left and the opposition parties on the although there right. The front benches are reserved for government ministers and is no evidence to opposition spokespeople. Only MPs are allowed to sit on the benches support this. in the Chamber. ST STephen’s Ministers and the Official Opposition’s shadow ministers stand at the CHAPEL despatch boxes to address the House. The Mace, a ceremonial staff of The original office representing the authority of House of Commons, is placed on debating Chamber for the House of the Table of the House when it is sitting. Commons was Saint Stephen’s Chapel Visiting the Chamber in the Palace of The public gallery of the Chamber Sound is provided through a Westminster given by King Edward VI is accessible when the House is speaker system. UK residents can in 1547. sitting, via the Cromwell Green ask their MP to arrange a tour Visitor Entrance. Visitors watch of Parliament which includes proceedings from behind a walking through the Chamber. security screen installed in 2006. Wartime damage During the Second World War, on 10 In 1990, after a trial period, the House May 1941, a bombing raid destroyed the of Commons agreed that its proceedings House of Commons Chamber. MPs used should also be televised. Today, BBC the House of Lords Chamber until the Parliament offers live unedited coverage Commons was rebuilt. The new Chamber, of the House of Commons on cable, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was digital satellite and Freeview. used for the first time on 26 October 1950. BBC Parliament also offers ‘recorded as Reporting from the Chamber live’ coverage of the House of Lords; The Press Gallery is located above and extensive coverage of select and standing behind the Speaker’s Chair. In 1803, committees and full live coverage of the Speaker Abbot recognised the need to main political party conferences as well protect the right of reporters to be in as proceedings in devolved assemblies. the gallery. His successors have strongly defended that right and access for BBC 2, BBC News Channel and Sky News accredited journalists has been guaranteed show Prime Minister’s Questions live, along ever since. The Press Gallery now with some ministerial statements and represents more than 300 newspapers, committee evidence, extending coverage wire service, radio, television and internet to other important debates such as the journalists who work at Westminster. Budget. In addition to this, most channels use brief extracts of parliamentary material Broadcasting from the Chamber in news bulletins and current affairs The BBC is required by its Licence and programmes. Agreement to “broadcast an impartial account day by day, prepared by Live and archived coverage of Parliament’s professional reporters, of the proceedings proceedings taking place in public, of both Houses of Parliament”. This including debates and committee meetings requirement has been met by the Today in of both Houses is also available on the Parliament radio programme since October Internet at www.parliamentlive.tv 1945. Sound recordings of proceedings in the Chamber began in 1978. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PEOPLE, EVENTS AND PLACES IN ParLIAMENT... Contact one of our Information Offices by telephone, by email or in writing or visit our website – www.parliament.uk – to find out more about the work, history and membership of Parliament. We can: answer your questions on how Parliament works provide detailed publications on Parliament’s work and history give you help following debates and legislation in Parliament House of Commons Information Office House of Lords Information Office T: 020 7219 4272 E: [email protected] T: 020 7219 3107 E: [email protected] House of Commons Information Office, House of Lords Information Office, House of Commons, Westminster, House of Lords, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA London, SW1A 0PW © Parliamentary Copyright July 2011.

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