MPs debated achievement gap in reading between children
4 September 2014
On Thursday 4 September MPs took part in a debate in the House of Commons Chamber on the achievement gap in reading between poorer children and their better-off peers. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee.
The debate was moved by Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole. Shadow Minister for Education, Kevin Brennan, responded for the Opposition. Minister of State, Department for Education, Nick Gibb, responded on behalf of the Government.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate the achievement gap in reading between poorer children and their better-off peers: Thursday 4 September 2014
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate the achievement gap in reading between poorer children and their better-off peers
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.