Backbench Business debates in the 2012-13 session
30 April 2013
Over the 2012-13 session, the Backbench Business Committee scheduled debates on a wide variety of issues including dementia, child sexual exploitation, banking competition, mental health, and the use of intercept evidence in courts and inquests.
A full list of debates over the 2012-13 session is available on the Backbench Business Committee website
E-petition debates
Over the last session, the Committee used its powers to schedule Monday debates in Westminster Hall on e-petitions. Consequently, Members debated the West Coast Mainline decision, children’s cardiac surgery, Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, and immigration from Bulgaria and Romania in 2014.
Select Committee report launches
The Backbench Business Committee also allocated time to Committee Chairs to launch their inquiries or reports in the House of Commons Chamber. Education, Work & Pensions, Justice, and Energy and Climate Change Committees took up this opportunity.
New Backbench Business Committee for 2013-14 session
Unlike other Select Committees, the Backbench Business Committee needs to be reconstituted in each session, with Members put forward from their parties. The election for the Backbench Business Committee Chair is held shortly after the Queen’s Speech.