8/13/2019 HoC Chamber

1/2

The ChamberThe House of Commons Chamber is where Members ofParliament (MPs) debate and vote on important issues.The main business of the House takes place here and caninvolve MPs putting questions to government ministers,debating issues of national importance and passinglegislation.

The Speakers Chair and the Table of the House provide a focal pointin the Chamber at its north end. There are green leather bencheson either side where MPs sit: looking towards the Speakers Chairthe government sit on the left and the opposition parties on theright. The front benches are reserved for government ministers andopposition spokespeople. Only MPs are allowed to sit on the benchesin the Chamber.

Ministers and the Official Oppositions shadow ministers stand at thedespatch boxes to address the House. The Mace, a ceremonial staff ofoffice representing the authority of House of Commons, is placed onthe Table of the House when it is sitting.

Visiting the ChamberThe public gallery of the Chamberis accessible when the House is

sitting, via the Cromwell GreenVisitor Entrance. Visitors watchproceedings from behind asecurity screen installed in 2006.

Sound is provided through aspeaker system. UK residents can

ask their MP to arrange a tourof Parliament which includeswalking through the Chamber.

THE HOUSE OFCOMMONS CHAMBER

TRADITIONS INTHE CHAMBER

MPs are notallowed to speakn the spacebetween twoed lines running

along the lengthof the Chamber. Ithas been claimedhese lines areraditionally twowords lengths

apart to preventMPs duellingalthough theres no evidence toupport this.

ST STEPHENSCHAPEL

The originaldebating Chamberor the House of

Commons was SaintStephens Chapeln the Palace ofWestminster givenby King Edward VI

n 1547.

PEOPLEEVE

NTSPLACES

8/13/2019 HoC Chamber

2/2

Wartime damageDuring the Second World War, on 10May 1941, a bombing raid destroyed theHouse of Commons Chamber. MPs usedthe House of Lords Chamber until theCommons was rebuilt. The new Chamber,

designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, wasused for the first time on 26 October 1950.

Reporting from the ChamberThe Press Gallery is located above andbehind the Speakers Chair. In 1803,Speaker Abbot recognised the need toprotect the right of reporters to be inthe gallery. His successors have strongly

defended that right and access foraccredited journalists has been guaranteedever since. The Press Gallery nowrepresents more than 300 newspapers,wire service, radio, television and internetjournalists who work at Westminster.

Broadcasting from the ChamberThe BBC is required by its Licence andAgreement to broadcast an impartialaccount day by day, prepared byprofessional reporters, of the proceedingsof both Houses of Parliament. Thisrequirement has been met by the Today inParliamentradio programme since October1945. Sound recordings of proceedings inthe Chamber began in 1978.

In 1990, after a trial period, the Houseof Commons agreed that its proceedingsshould also be televised. Today, BBCParliament offers live unedited coverageof the House of Commons on cable,

digital satellite and Freeview.

BBC Parliament also offers recorded aslive coverage of the House of Lords;extensive coverage of select and standingcommittees and full live coverage of themain political party conferences as wellas proceedings in devolved assemblies.

BBC 2, BBC News Channel and Sky Newsshow Prime Ministers Questions live, alongwith some ministerial statements andcommittee evidence, extending coverageto other important debates such as theBudget. In addition to this, most channelsuse brief extracts of parliamentary materialin news bulletins and current affairsprogrammes.

Live and archived coverage of Parliamentsproceedings taking place in public,including debates and committee meetingsof both Houses is also available on theInternet at www.parliamentlive.tv

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 Parliaments work and history

give you help following debates and legislation in Parliament

House of Commons Information OfficeT: 020 7219 4272 E: hcinfo@parliament.uk

House of Commons Information Office,House of Commons, Westminster,London, SW1A 0AA

House of Lords Information OfficeT: 020 7219 3107 E: hlinfo@parliament.uk

House of Lords Information Office,House of Lords, Westminster,London, SW1A 0PW

ParliamentaryCopyri

ghtJuly2011