MPs debate mental health and unemployment
23 February 2015
On Tuesday 24 February, MPs took part in a general debate on mental health and unemployment. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Paul Burstow, Mr Charles Walker and Mr Kevan Jones.
The debate was opened by Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
- Watch Parliament TV: MPs debate mental health and unemployment 24 February
- Read Commons Hansard: MPs debate mental health and unemployment 24 February
How the subject was selected
The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from Paul Burstow and Mr Charles Walker at the public meeting on Tuesday 10 February 2015.
- Parliament TV: Backbench Business Committee on 10 February 2015
- Transcript of oral evidence heard on 10 February 2015
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.