Commons MPs debate Private Members’ Bills
1 February 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The Commons debated a number of Private Members' Bills, starting with the second reading of the Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill, sponsored by Brian Iddon MP.
- Video and Audio: Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill
- Commons Hansard: Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill
- Explanatory Notes: Mortgage Repossessions (Protection of Tenants etc) Bill
- About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
Protection of tenants
The recent economic downturn has meant a rise in the numbers of homes being repossessed. The main purpose of this Bill is to offer protection to tenants whose landlord has both defaulted on his mortgage and not notified his lender that the property was being let.
The Bill passed its second reading and now moves to a public bill committee.
Sunbed regulation
MPs also debated the second reading of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill sponsored by Julie Morgan MP.
- Video and Audio: Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill
- Commons Hansard: Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill
- Explanatory Notes: Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill
- About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
The Bill would mean that sunbed businesses could not offer their services to those under 18 years old. Local authorities would enforce the new regulation. The Government would have powers to impose further conditions on commercial sunbed use, including the need for supervision, provision of information on health risks, and eye protection.
The Bill passed its second reading and now moves to a public bill committee.
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
The third Bill - sponsored by Simon Hughes MP - would amend the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act to allow local authorities to use the money they receive from developers to improve existing social homes or build new ones.
- Video and audio: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (Amendment) Bill
- Commons Hansard: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (Amendment) Bill
- Bills before Parliament: Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (Amendment) Bill
- About Parliament: Passage of a Bill
Currently the Department for Communities and Local Government guidelines means that councils are restricted to using this money to improve infrastructure, even if that infrastructure is already of a good standard.
The second reading was adjourned and will be resumed on Friday 26 February.
Other Bills
The Development on Flood Plains (Environment Agency powers) Bill was rejected. The Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Bill passed its second reading without debate and moves to a public bill committee.
Private Members' Bills
Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and Members of the Lords who aren't government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to change the law as it applies to the general population.