MPs debate repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act
23 October 2014
On Thursday 23 October MPs took part in a debate on a motion relating to the repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
The Members in charge for this debate were Richard Drax, Conservative MP for South Dorset, and Sir Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
Sir Edward Leigh opened the debate.
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act
Text of the Motion
MPs debated the following motion:
"That this House believes that the Government should bring forward proposals to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011."
Relevant Documents
The following select committee reports and government response have been identified as relevant to the debate:
- Second Report of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, Session 2010-12, Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, HC Paper 436
- Government response: Report of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill, Cm 7951
- Thirteenth Report of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, Session 2013-14, Fixed-term Parliaments: the final year of a Parliament, HC 976
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 1pm 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.