Join our digital debate on International Women’s Day
4 March 2016 (updated on 4 March 2016)
Digital Debate
On Monday 7 March 3.30pm, Conservative MPs Mims Davies and Maria Miller will hold a public debate on Twitter on International Women's Day, using #IWD2016. This digital debate will allow members of the public to contribute towards the Backbench Business debate in the House of Commons Chamber the following day, and provide a useful resource for MPs taking part.
Chamber Debate
On Tuesday 8 March MPs will take part in a debate on International Women’s Day in the Commons Chamber. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Mims Davies, Dawn Butler, Mrs Maria Miller on 9 February.
This debate will be led by Mims Davies, MP for Eastleigh and Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
Watch Parliament TV: Commons debate on International Women’s Day
Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available three hours after they happen in Today’s Commons Debates.
Ian Mearns MP, Chair of the Backbench Business Committee, said:
"The Backbench Business Committee exists to allow MPs to set the agenda through leading debates in the House of Commons. This digital debate will mean that members of the public can contribute to an important debate, and will help to inform arguments and suggest solutions. I hope people will take the opportunity to participate in this special part of the democratic process."
Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy
The idea for digital debates came from a recommendation by the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy. The report recommends how Parliament can use digital technology to help it to be more transparent, inclusive, and better able to engage the public with democracy.
Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
"The use of digital debates was a key recommendation of the Speaker’s Commission on Digital Democracy, and I am delighted that it is being used on this occasion. It is an excellent opportunity for MPs and the public to engage with, or simply observe, the discussion and I am sure it will be a tremendous success."
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.