MPs debate issues facing small businesses
28 November 2013
On Thursday 28 November, MPs debated the issues facing small businesses. The debate was chosen by the Backbench Business Committee following representations from Anne Marie Morris, Mr Brian Binley, Simon Danczuk, Graham Evans.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
Anne Marie Morris opened the debate. This was the first Backbench debate on 28 November, following the launch of the European Scrutiny Committee report.
- Watch Parliament TV: Debate on issues facing small businesses
- Read Commons Hansard: Debate on issues facing small businesses
Text of the motion
MPs debated the motion
"That this House encourages the Government to consider what further measures can be taken to encourage small business to flourish and prosper, including reducing the burden of red tape, addressing the complex tax structure, improving access to finance and gaining support from local government."
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representations by Anne Marie Morris, Mr Brian Binley, Simon Danczuk, Graham Evans at the Committee’s meeting on 5 November.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee on 5 November 2013
- Uncorrected transcript of oral evidence heard on 5 November 2013
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.
An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.
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.