MPs took part in valedictory debate for retiring MPs
26 March 2015
On Thursday 26 March, MPs took part in a valedictory debate for retiring MPs. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Sir George Young.
Watch the debate and read the transcript
The debate was opened by Sir George Young, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire. Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Angela Eagle, responded on behalf of the Opposition. First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons, William Hague, responded for the Government.
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays 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.