Debate on Defence Spending
18 June 2014
On Thursday 19 June, MPs took part in a debate on Defence Spending. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee in the last Session of Parliament. Members in charge for this debate are Mr John Baron, Jim Shannon, Mr Jim Cunningham, Bob Stewart, Mr James Gray, Mrs Madeleine Moon.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
This debate was opened by Mr John Baron and was the second Backbench Business item of main business, following the debate on UK's relationship with Africa.
Natascha Engel Elected Chair of the Backbench Business Committee
Natascha Engel, Chair of the Backbench Business Committee in the 2010-12, 2012-13, 2012-14 sessions, has been re-elected unopposed as Chair of the Backbench Business Committee for 2014-15 session.
Membership of the Backbench Business Committee
Unlike other Select Committees, the Backbench Business Committee needs to be reconstituted in each session, with Members put forward from their parties. The membership of the Committee will be announced in due course.
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