MPs meet in a Committee Room near the historic hall

Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons.

Since November 1999, Members of Parliament have held regular debates in Westminster Hall on an experimental basis.

In fact MPs meet not in the historic Westminster Hall itself but in a Committee Room nearby.

On Tuesday and Wednesdays, from 9.30 am until 2 pm, MPs hold a series of adjournment debates.

The first two debates of each morning last for an hour and a half; these are followed by three half-hour debates.

The shorter debates are often used to raise matters of concern to a particular constituency.

Examples of constituency issues that have been raised in Westminster Hall are local hospital services, funding of police forces and constituents' immigration problems.

On Thursday afternoons MPs hold a single debate, beginning at 2.30 pm, for up to three hours.

The new debating facility in Westminster Hall and the changed sitting hours should now be put on a permanent basis...to reflect their position as permanent and valuable reforms of Westminster procedures Robin Cook MP September 2002

The Thursday sittings often discuss Select Committee Reports, or general topics which otherwise would not be allocated time for debate. Topics raised on Thursdays have ranged from the "fridge mountain" to the Government's Sure Start strategy for children in deprived areas.

The Modernisation Committee has proposed that Westminster Hall should become a permanent second chamber for the Commons.

The modernisation proposals will involve some changes in the times of Westminster Hall sittings.

They are due to be discussed after the Commons returns in mid-October.

BBC Parliament broadcasts recorded coverage of Westminster Hall every Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning when the Commons is sitting