Committee Announces Backbench Debates to be Held in March
24 February 2012
The Backbench Business Committee is responsible for scheduling debates on 35 days during the current session, at least 27 of which will be debates in the main Chamber of the House of Commons, with the remainder to be taken in Westminster Hall.
The Committee has determined that the following business will take place in backbench time:
Thursday 1 March in the Chamber
Motion relating to CPI/RPI pensions uprating (Member in charge: John McDonnell).
The Committee heard this was an issue of public interest and the e-petition ‘Public and Private Pension Increases change from RPI to CPI’ had received over 100,000 signatures. The Committee also heard that this subject was unlikely to be debated through any alternative route.
Followed by a General Debate on Welsh Affairs (Members in charge: Paul Murphy and Mr Elfyn Llywd).
The Committee heard there was strong interest from Members representing Welsh constituencies for a debate on Welsh Affairs on St David’s Day.
Thursday 15 March in Westminster Hall
Debate on effectiveness of UK Trade and Investment (Members in charge: Laura Sandys and Barry Gardiner).
The Committee heard that Members from across the House wished to debate this subject, which affects small businesses in every constituency in the UK.
Tuesday 27 March in the Chamber (full day)
Motion relating to assisted dying (Member in charge: Richard Ottaway).
The Committee heard this was a subject of great public interest which many Members wished to debate.