Backbench debates announced for selected January dates
9 January 2014
Following its public meeting on 7 January, the Backbench Business Committee has scheduled backbench debates for selected dates in January 2014.
The Committee has determined that the following business will take place in backbench time:
Monday 13 January in the Chamber
- Debate on a motion relating to Welfare reforms and poverty (Members in charge: Michael Meacher, Sir Peter Bottomley) (Debate follows the main business, the European Union (Approvals) Bill [Lords])
Thursday 16 January in the Chamber
- General debate on child neglect and the criminal law (Members in charge: Robert Buckland, Meg Munn)
Representation for debate received at Backbench Business Committee on 7 January - General debate on nuisance calls (Members in charge: Mike Crockart, Alun Cairns)
The Committee has recommended the following business to the Chairman of Ways and Means for 90 minute debates in Westminster Hall on 14, 21 January:
- Tuesday 14 January at 9.30am: General debate on High Speed 2 (Member in charge: Sheila Gilmore) Representation for debate received at Backbench Business Committee on 7 January
- Tuesday 21 January at 9.30am: General debate on funding for debt advice through the FCA levy (Members in charge: Robin Walker, Damian Hinds)
Representation for debate received at Backbench Business Committee on 7 January
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.