MPs debate UK's relationship with Africa

 Watch the debate and read the transcript

This debate followed the motion to approve a Statutory Instrument relating to terrorism and was opened by James Duddridge.

• Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate UK's relationship with Africa
• Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate 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

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• How the Backbench Business Committee works