House of Commons Backbench Business Committee Formal Minutes of the Committee Session 2010-12 2 The Backbench Business Committee The Backbench Business Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to determine the backbench business to be taken in the House and in Westminster Hall on days, or parts of days, allotted for backbench business. Current membership Natascha Engel (Labour, North East Derbyshire) (Chair) Mr Peter Bone (Conservative, Wellingborough) Philip Davies (Conservative, Shipley) Jane Ellison (Conservative, Battersea) John Hemming (Liberal Democrat, Birmingham Yardley) Mr Philip Hollobone (Conservative, Kettering) Ian Mearns (Gateshead, Labour) Mr George Mudie (Leeds East, Labour) The following were also members of the Committee during the session: Mr David Anderson (Labour, Blaydon) Alison Seabeck (Labour, Plymouth, Moor View) Powers The Committee is established under Standing Order No 152J to determine the backbench business to be taken in the House and in Westminster Hall on days, or parts of days, allotted for backbench business. The powers of select committees are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, which are available on the internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications All publications of the Committee are on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/bbcom Committee staff The current staff of the Committee is Paul Evans (Clerk), Dr Sue Griffiths (Second Clerk), Kevin Gardner (Committee Assistant) and Gary Calder (Media Officer). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Backbench Business Committee, Table Office, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 3754; and the Committee’s email address is [email protected]. 1 Formal Minutes of the Committee, Session 2010-12 TUESDAY 6 JULY 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson John Hemming Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Philip Davies Alison Seabeck Jane Ellison General discussion on the Committee’s working practices The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That the public be admitted during the examination of witnesses unless the Committee orders otherwise. [Adjourned until Monday 12 July at 7 p.m. MONDAY 12 JULY 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson John Hemming Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Jane Ellison Alison Seabeck 1. General discussion on the Committee’s working practices The Committee considered this matter. 2. Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 20 July 2 Ordered, That the Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 20 July be reported to the House for publication on the internet. [Adjourned until Monday 19 July at 7 p.m. MONDAY 19 JULY 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson John Hemming Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Philip Davies Alison Seabeck Jane Ellison 1. Debate on Information for Backbenchers on Statements: Tuesday 20 July The Committee considered this matter. 2. Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 27 July and on future days Ordered, That the Determination of business to be taken on Tuesday 27 July and on future days be reported to the House for publication on the internet. 3. First Special Report: Provisional Approach: Session 2010-11 Draft Special Report (Provisional Approach: Session 2010-11), proposed by the Chair, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to. Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House. [Adjourned until Monday 26 July at 5 p.m. MONDAY 26 JULY 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson Mr Philip Hollobone 3 Mr Peter Bone Alison Seabeck Jane Ellison 1. Debate on Information for Backbenchers on Statements: Tuesday 20 July The Committee considered this matter. 2. Requests for debates The Committee considered this matter. Requests had been received as follows: • Graham Evans and Steve Baker: reforming EDMs • Mr David Amess: animals used in scientific experiments • Jim Sheridan: IPSA • Robert Halfon: the internet and privacy • Meg Hillier: housing benefit • Steve Baker: reforming EDMs 3. Arrangements for debates during September sitting The Committee considered this matter. 4. Chair’s report on the Liaison Committee meeting held on Wednesday 21 July The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned until Monday 6 September at 5 p.m. MONDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson John Hemming Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Philip Davies Alison Seabeck Jane Ellison 1. Arrangements for debates during September sitting 4 The Committee considered this matter. 2. Seminar: Wednesday 8 September. The Committee considered this matter. 3. Requests for debates The Committee considered this matter. Requests had been received as follows: • Madeleine Moon MP; Alun Michael MP; Yvette Cooper MP; Desmond Swayne MP; Sir Robert Smith MP; Sir George Young MP and David Davis MP: contaminated blood (including emails from constituents) • Nicky Morgan MP: houses in multiple occupation • Gordon Banks MP: looped blind cords [Adjourned until Monday 13 September at 5 p.m. MONDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Jane Ellison Mr Philip Hollobone John Hemming Alison Seabeck 1. Matters arising from the Seminar held on Wednesday 8 September The Committee considered this matter. 2. Representations from Members: Wednesday 15 September The Committee considered this matter. 3. Arrangements for the debate on Thursday 16 September The Committee considered this matter. 4. Requests for debates Requests had been received as follows: 5 • House of Commons Commission Annual Report (Westminster Hall debate suggested) • Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee: Standing Order changes and debate on the work of the Committee • Robert Halfon MP: the internet and privacy 5. Debate on Afghanistan: Thursday 9 September The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned until Wednesday 15 September at 4.55 p.m. WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Jane Ellison Alison Seabeck John Hemming 1. Representations from Members The following Members gave oral representations: • Owen Smith MP and Geoffrey Robinson MP: Contaminated blood • Fiona Mactaggart MP: Human trafficking • Nicholas Soames MP and Frank Field MP: Immigration • Bob Russell MP: Child poverty • Robert Halfon MP: Internet and privacy • Gordon Banks MP: Looped blind cords • Duncan Hames and Charlotte Leslie MP: Cancun Climate Change Conference • Kate Green MP: Reform of housing benefit • Chris Williamson MP and Nic Dakin MP: Nuclear test veterans Written requests had been received as follows: • Chris Heaton-Harris MP: Government policy on on-shore wind farms • Steve Rotheram: Governance of Professional Football Clubs • Nicky Morgan MP: Houses in multiple occupation/sustainable communities 2. Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 14 October 6 Ordered, That the Determination of business to be taken on Thursday 14 October, with Annex containing a transcript of representations made on 15 September, be reported to the House for publication on the internet. [Adjourned until Monday 11 October at 5 p.m. MONDAY 11 OCTOBER 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr David Anderson John Hemming Mr Peter Bone Mr Philip Hollobone Jane Ellison 1. Motion relating to contaminated blood for debate on Thursday 14 October The Committee considered this matter. 2. Requests for debates Requests for debates had been received as follows: • Michael Meacher MP: Reform of the banking system • Steve Baker MP: Reform of EDMs 4. Determination of business to be taken in Westminster Hall on Thursday 28 October Ordered, That the Determination of business to be taken in Westminster Hall on Thursday 28 October be reported to the House for publication on the internet. [Adjourned until Monday 18 October at 5 p.m. MONDAY 18 OCTOBER 2010 Members present: Mr Peter Bone, in the Chair Philip Davies John Hemming Jane Ellison Mr Philip Hollobone 7 In the temporary absence of the Chair, Mr Peter Bone was called to the Chair for the meeting. 1. Determination of business to be taken in Westminster Hall on Thursday 4 November Ordered, That the Determination of business to be taken in Westminster Hall on Thursday 4 November be reported to the House for publication on the internet. 2. Arrangements for taking representations from Members The Committee considered this matter. 3. Review of backbench business on Thursday 14 October The Committee considered this matter. [Adjourned until Monday 25 October at 4.55 p.m. MONDAY 25 OCTOBER 2010 Members present: Natascha Engel, in the Chair Mr Peter Bone John Hemming Philip Davies Mr Philip Hollobone Jane Ellison 1. Representations from Members The following Members made oral representations: • Adam Afriyie: IPSA • Steve Baker: Reform of EDMs • Paul Flynn: Preparations for pandemics • Dr Julian Lewis: Trident replacement • Mr Michael Meacher: Banking reform • Nicky Morgan: Houses in multiple occupation/sustainable communities • Mr John Redwood, Jeremy Lefroy and Mr Brian Binley: Policy for growth • Steve Rotheram: Governance of Professional Football Clubs Written requests had been received as follows: 8 • Mark Garnier and Harriett Baldwin: Regulation of independent financial advisors • Grahame M. Morris: Effect of cuts and spending limits on the NHS 2. Determination of business to be taken on Thursday