Debate on the Future of Town Centres and High Streets scheduled for 17 January
11 January 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:
Tuesday 17 January in the Chamber
General debate on the future of town centres and high streets (Members in charge: Mr Marcus Jones, Stephen Lloyd, Justin Tomlinson, Sir Bob Russell, Jim Dowd and Mr Philip Hollobone)
The Committee heard that many backbench Members wished to debate the findings of the review by Mary Portas on the future of the high street published in December. This follows a well-attended meeting of the All-party Parliamentary Group for Town Centres to discuss the issues raised by her review.
Thursday 19 January in Westminster Hall
Debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2012 (Member in charge: Gavin Barwell)
The Committee heard there was cross-party support for a debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January 2012) to provide an opportunity to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and to raise current concerns relating to anti-Semitism, racism and prejudice.
The Committee heard a representation from Richard Ottaway for a debate on assisted suicide on a substantive motion in the Chamber and agreed that this debate should take place. The timing of the debate, likely to be early Spring, will be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.