This is an image of one debate about the NHS Funding Bill

A screenshot of the House of Commons showing a largely empty chamber during a debate on NHS funding has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook. 

It is true that the debate seen in the screenshot was for the NHS Funding Bill. The debate can be read in Hansard here, and you can watch it in its entirety on parliamentlive.tv here. The moment captured in the Facebook post comes just over two hours into the four hour-plus debate, as Labour MP Alex Cunningham starts speaking.

It is worth noting that the gathering shown in the image is a “committee stage” House of Commons debate. Committee stage bill readings tend to be dealt with by public bill committees, which are usually around 16 to 50 people in size. For this Bill, the Legislative Grand Committee for England was used for committee stage—this is a committee made up of all English MPs. 

The number of MPs seen in the screenshot is not reflective of how many were present at all points during the debate. Compare that image with one from just over an hour later in the same debate, following a vote on one of the proposed amendments:

The Bill itself is a very short bill that places in law the funding for the NHS in England until March 2024. It is what is known as a “money bill”, which the Parliament website says means that “committee stage, report stage and third reading are normally formalities”.

Those interested in the NHS Funding Bill and contributions to it by MPs can follow its progress here.