MPs debate Scotland’s place in the UK
6 February 2014
On Thursday 6 February, MPs took part in a general debate on Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom. The debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following representations from William Bain.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
The debate was the first item of main business and was opened by William Bain.
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate Scotland’s place in the UK
- Read Commons Hansard: debate on Scotland's place in the UK
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from William Bain at the public meeting on Tuesday 19 November 2013.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee on 19 November 2013
- Transcript of oral evidence heard on 19 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.