MPs debate rural communities
9 January 2014
On Thursday 9 January 2014, MPs took part in a general debate on rural communities. This had previously been scheduled for debate in December 2013.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
This debate was scheduled following a bid 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 Response to the report.
- Watch Parliament TV: General debate on rural communities
- Read Commons Hansard: General debate on rural communities
Rural Communities Report
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report was published on 24 July 2013. The Government Response to the report was published 28 October 2013.
- Read Committee Report: Rural Communities (HC 602)
- Read Government Response to the Rural Communities Report (HC 764)
- Find out more about the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
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.