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MPs aim to change the law as they present Private Members’ Bills to Parliament

MPs who were successful in this year’s Private Members’ Bill ballot presented their Bills to Parliament today.

Private Members’ Bills can be introduced by MPs who are not Government Ministers. It’s up to the MP to choose the topic of the Bill, and the Bill generally attempts to change the law on a specific area.

Twenty MPs were drawn in last month’s Private Members’ Bill ballot and have spent the past few weeks deciding on which topic they wish to introduce.

Images of the presentation of Bills can be accessed here.

The 20 MPs and their Bills are:

  1. Kim Leadbeater, Labour (Spen Valley) - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill
  2. Max Wilkinson, Liberal Democrats (Cheltenham) - New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill
  3. Dr Roz Savage, Liberal Democrats (South Cotswolds) - Climate and Nature Bill
  4. Clive Lewis, Labour (Norwich South) - Water Bill
  5. Josh MacAlister, Labour (Whitehaven and Workington) - Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill
  6. Dr Scott Arthur, Labour (Edinburgh South West) - Rare Cancers Bill
  7. Jim Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice (North Antrim) - European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill
  8. Peter Lamb, Labour (Crawley) - Free School Meals (Automatic Registration of Eligible Children) Bill
  9. Alex McIntyre, Labour (Gloucester) - Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill
  10. Andrew Ranger, Labour (Wrexham) - Licensing Hours Extensions Bill
  11. Jake Richards, Labour (Rother Valley) - Looked After Children (Distance Placements) Bill
  12. Tracy Gilbert, Labour (Edinburgh North and Leith) - Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill
  13. Linsey Farnsworth, Labour (Amber Valley) - Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill
  14. John Grady, Labour (Glasgow East) - Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill
  15. Rachael Maskell, Labour (Co-op), (York Central) - Short-term Let Accommodation Bill
  16. Ruth Jones, Labour (Newport West and Islwyn) - Fur (Import and Sale) Bill
  17. Dr Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrats (Winchester) - Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill
  18. Sarah Owen, Labour (Luton North) - Fireworks Bill
  19. Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrats (North East Fife) - Gambling Act 2005 (Monetary Limits for Lotteries) Bill
  20. Dr Rupa Huq, Labour (Ealing Central and Acton) - Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill

Further information on all of the Bills can be found in today’s order paper.

Priority for debating time is given to MPs who have appeared near the top of the ballot and thirteen Fridays in each parliamentary session are allocated to debating these bills, with the first Private Members’ Bill Friday taking place on 29 November.

Private Members’ Bills need to go through all legislative stages in both Houses of Parliament before they can become law (known as an ‘Act’). You can find out more on bill stages on our website here.

What is the Private Members Bill ballot?

Backbench MPs have the chance to introduce new laws if they are successful in the Private Members’ Bill ballot. 

MPs wishing to participate in the ballot enter their name against a number in the ballot book. 458 MPs entered the ballot this year.

The Chairman of Ways and Means – Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani – then drew 20 numbered ballot balls before reading out the names of the successful MPs. Those drawn highest in the ballot usually have the best chance of making progress with their Bill.

It is up to the MP to decide on the bill’s topic and thirteen Fridays in each Parliamentary session are usually allocated to debating these bills. 

The full draw can be watched back on Parliament TV.