Backbench debates for 14 and 26 March

Following its meeting on 5 March, the Committee has determined that the following business will take place in backbench time on 14 and 26 March:

Thursday 14 March in the House of Commons Chamber

• Launch of a report from the Justice Select Committee on Youth Justice (Member in charge: Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith, Chair of Justice Committee) (for approximately 20 minutes)
• Debate on a Motion relating to Accountability and Transparency in the NHS  (Members in charge: Charlotte Leslie, Philip Lee, Stephen Barclay, John Pugh, Sarah Wollaston and Kate Hoey)

Thursday 14 March in Westminster Hall

• General debate relating to Commonwealth Day (Member in charge: Sir Alan Haselhurst) (90 minutes)

Tuesday 26 March in the House of Commons Chamber

• Debate on a motion relating to Flood insurance (Member in charge: Mr Dominic Raab) (up to 2 hours)
• Pre-recess Adjournment debate using the new style adopted in the 2010-12 session whereby, for the first half, debates are grouped by department and responded to by the relevant Minister. The second section of the debate will provide an opportunity for Members to raise general matters.

Representations for debate received by the Committee at its public meeting on 5 March

The Committee also heard representations from:

• Eleanor Laing, Graham Evans, Claire Perry and Bridget Phillipson for a debate on Women and Growth – Women’s role in the workplace and economy (in respect of International Women’s Day)
• Caroline Lucas for a debate on the 10th anniversary of the 2003 invasion of Iraq

E-petitions

The Committee can consider any subject for debate, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns but an MP must go before the Committee to make the case for their consideration. For more information on how the Backbench Business Committee handles e-petitions please visit the Committee's e-petitions page.

The Backbench Business Committee has yet to receive a representation from a Member in regard to the following e-petitions which have received over 100,000 signatures on the Government’s e-petitions website (external site):

• Restoration of Age Related Tax Allowances
• The Oliver King Foundation – SADS
• Protect Police Pensions

Backbench Business Committee

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.