Private Members’ Bill ballot to be drawn on Thursday 16 November
14 November 2023
Backbench Members of Parliament will have the chance to introduce new laws if they are successful in Thursday’s Private Members’ Bill ballot.
Private Member's Bill ballot
The ballot, which takes place at the start of every parliamentary session, will be held at 9am, and will be streamed live on Parliament Live.
Private Members’ Bills are public bills introduced by MPs who are not government ministers. MPs wishing to participate in the ballot enter their name against a number in the ballot book.
Twenty numbered ballot balls will be drawn by Chairman of Ways and Means, Rt Hon Dame Eleanor Laing, with the names of the successful MPs read out. The draw takes place in reverse order, meaning the last MP to be called will get the coveted place at the top of the ballot. Those drawn highest in the ballot have the best chance of making progress with their bill.
The successful MPs will introduce their bills on the fifth sitting Wednesday of the session, 6 December. The MP decides the bill’s topic.
Thirteen Fridays in each Parliamentary session will be allocated to debating these bills.
Chairman of Ways and Means, Rt Hon Dame Eleanor Laing, said:
“The Private Members’ Bill ballot is an important parliamentary tradition. Private Members Bills have led to many changes to the law. If an MP is successful in the ballot, he or she is then able to pursue new legislation and to raise awareness of issues of importance to them and their constituents.
“Last year, 16 ballot bills received royal assent on a variety of topics. They included Bills providing unpaid leave for employees with caring responsibilities, ensuring tips are paid to workers, and banning the import and export of shark fins.
“I look forward to presiding over the draw and wish my colleagues the very best of luck and success in the ballot.”
Success of Private Members' Ballot bills
In the 2022-23 session, 16 bills from the Private Members' Bill ballot became law:
- Carer's Leave Act 2023
- Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023
- Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act 2023
- Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Act 2023
- Electricity Transmission (Compensation) Act 2023
- Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023
- Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023
- Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023
- Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023
- Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Act 2023
- Powers of Attorney Act 2023
- Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023
- Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023
- Shark Fins Act 2023
- Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023
- Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
Find out more about successful Private Members Bills:
What are Private Members' Bills?
Private Members' Bills are public bills introduced by MPs and Lords who are not government ministers. As with other public bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population. A minority of Private Members' Bills become law.
There are three ways in which an MP can table a Private Members' Bill, but ballot bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available.
The names of MPs applying for a bill are drawn in a ballot held at the beginning of the parliamentary session. Normally, the first seven ballot bills get a day's debate.
Image: UK Parliament