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House of Commons finances, mental health, police, stalking

Debates announced for 18, 21 November 2013

6 November 2013

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Following the public meeting of the the Backbench Business Committee on 5 November, the Committee has announced the backbench business for 18, 21 November 2013.

Monday 18 November in the Chamber

  • General debate on police procedures in dealing with mental health issues (Members in charge: Mrs Madeleine Moon, Paul Burstow, James Morris)

Thursday 21 November in the Chamber

  • Debate on a motion relating to the finances of the House of Commons (Member in charge: John Thurso)
  • Debate on a motion relating to implementation of new legislation on stalking (Members in charge: Mr Elfyn Llywd, Mrs Cheryl Gillan)

Representations received

At its public meeting on Tuesday 5 November, the Committee heard, in addition to the bids relating to House of Commons finances and to stalking laws, representations from the following:

  • Anne Marie Morris, Mr Brian Binley, Simon Danczuk, Graham Evans for a debate on small business and the issues facing them.
  • Ian Swales for a debate on inter-city rail investment.
  • Ann Coffey and Simon Danczuk for a debate on retail and the high street.

The Committee also received a written representation for a debate from Anne McIntosh, Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, for a debate on the Committee’s report on Rural Communities and the Government’s response to it.

Committee membership

Mark Spencer (Conservative) has been appointed a Member of the Backbench Business Committee.

The Committee has invited Pete Wishart (SNP) to attend its meetings and take part in its proceedings, in order to represent the views of the minority Opposition parties (pursuant to Standing Order No. 152J (7)).A Conservative Member will be appointed to the Committee in due course, following the appointment of Marcus Jones as a PPS.

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.

Further Information