Private Members' Bills Ballot: 16 May 2013

The Chairman of Ways and Means, Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle MP, drew the names of twenty MPs in reverse order, with the last Member drawn having the first choice of a Private Members’ Bill Friday for their chosen bill. 440 MPs entered their names into the ballot.

Position in the ballot

1. James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockon North
2. Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central
3. Jonathan Lord, Conservative MP for Woking
4. Sheryll Murray, Conservative MP for South East Cornwall
5. Dan Byles, Conservative MP for North Warwickshire 
6. Sir Alan Meale, Labour MP for Mansfield
7. Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Denton and Reddish
8. Karl McCartney, Conservative MP for Lincoln
9. Sir Robert Smith, Liberal Democrat MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
10. Graham Evans, Conservative MP for Weaver Vale
11. Mike Crockart, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West
12. Justin Tomlinson, Conservative MP for North Swindon
13. Mark Williams, Liberal Democrat MP for Ceredigion
14. Sir Malcom Bruce, Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon
15. Caroline Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden
16. Andrew Selous, Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire
17. Margot James, Conservative MP for Stourbridge
18. William Cash, Conservative MP for Stone
19. Michael Meacher, Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton
20. Dr Matthew Offord, Conservative MP for Hendon

The ballot for Private Members’ Bills presents an opportunity to be one of the first MPs to introduce a Private Members Bill in the 2013-14 session and may mean guaranteed debating time on the Bill on a Friday sitting of the House, allocated to the consideration of Private Members’ Bills.

Ahead of the ballot, Mr Hoyle said,

"The Private Members’ Bill Ballot is a big moment, especially for backbench Members. It’s an opportunity for backbenchers to then bring forward Bills on the issues that really matter to them, which they hope will become the law of the land.

 

"The higher Members are in the ballot, the better their chance of securing debate and progress on their Bills, so everyone will want to be drawn in those top few places.

 

"This year, for the first time, I will be calling the names in reverse order, which I hope will create an even greater sense of anticipation, interest and excitement for Members and other interested parties.

Presentation of Bills

The Ballot Bills will have their first reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19 June and will then be considered on sitting Fridays. Time for debating Private Members' Bills is limited to 13 Fridays in each session of Parliament.

The following Fridays have been set for discussion of Private Members’ Bills in 2013-14:

• 5 July 2013
• 12 July 2013
• 6 September 2013
• 13 September 2013
• 18 October 2013
• 25 October 2013
• 1 November 2013
• 8 November 2013
• 22 November 2013
• 29 November 2013
• 17 January 2014
• 24 January 2014
• 28 February 2014

Success of Private Members' Ballot Bills

The following were Private Members' Bills from the ballot that became law in the 2012-13 Parliamentary session:

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 a Member 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 Members applying for a Bill are drawn in a ballot held at the beginning of the parliamentary year. Normally, the first seven ballot Bills get a day's debate.

• Find out more about Private Members' Bills
• Find out how a bill becomes law