Election of Select Committee Chairs CANDIDATES 17 JUNE 2015 INTRODUCTION This booklet lists all the candidates for the Select Candidates are required to provide 15 signatures Committee Chair elections. of supporters from their own party, except in the case of chairs allocated to the Scottish National The elections will take place on Wednesday 17 Party when only the first six such names are June 2015. The election is governed by Standing printed. Order No. 122B. Candidates for the Backbench Business Candidates who are unopposed are included Committee require signatures of between 20 and in this booklet but will not appear on ballot 25 Members, of whom no fewer than 10 shall papers on 17 June: they will be elected as Chairs be members of party presented in Her Majesty’s automatically. Government and no fewer than 10 shall be members of another party or no party. The candidates are listed by committee, in alphabetical order. All candidates are required to sign a statement indicating willingness to stand for election and declare any relevant interests. Each candidate’s entry in the booklet prints any further personal statement that has been submitted by that candidate. Backbench Business Committee OPPOSITION PARTY Candidates Sarah Champion (Rotherham) Ian Mearns (Gateshead) Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) BACKBENCH BUSINESS COMMITTEE Opposition Party Sarah Champion Nominated by Nominated by (Government party) (non-Government parties) Tim Loughton, Karen Lumley, Mr Simon Mr Clive Betts, Paul Flynn, Ann Coffey, Burns, David T.C. Davies, Zac Goldsmith, Mr Khalid Mahmood, Ruth Smeeth, Naz Nicola Blackwood, Dr Sarah Wollaston, Alec Shah, Valerie Vaz, John Mann, Holly Shelbrooke, Chloe Smith, Stephen Phillips Lynch, Huw Irranca-Davies Statement Now, more than ever, Back Benchers need to be a powerful perception of these issues. I know first-hand the potential for voice in Parliament. It is vital that we have the opportunity to change that being a Back Bencher can, and does, bring. I want raise issues, campaign, represent our constituents and challenge all colleagues to be able to use the tools available to them and I where we feel necessary. I want to Chair the Back Bench will fight to make sure those rights continue. Business Committee to make sure that our voice is heard. Please I hope you recognise me as a fair and collaborative MP who vote for me. wants to effect positive change. In my role as Chair, I would Since being elected, I have held debates in the Chamber not be swayed by party politics as the issues we raise are bigger and Westminster Hall on topics including electoral reform, than that. I am committed to ensuring that a strong sense of gender pay equality and human rights, as well as key local democracy is maintained, built upon and that we can continue issues that affect my constituents. These debates have led to our role as vocal representatives for the causes we champion. changes in legislation. They have shaped the development of If you have already committed your vote to another MP, I would policy. Perhaps most importantly, they have shaped the public be grateful if you would consider me as your second preference. BACKBENCH BUSINESS COMMITTEE Opposition Party Ian Mearns Nominated by Nominated by (Government party) (non-Government parties) Mr Robin Walker, Mr Jonathan Djanogly, Kelvin Hopkins, Helen Jones, Mr Iain Mark Garnier, Christopher Pincher, James Wright, Mr Kevan Jones, Grahame Morris, Steve Brine, James Cleverly, Mr Morris, John McDonnell, Kate Green, Phillip Davies, John Howell, Sir David Amess, Richard Burgon, Chris Stephens, Fiona Bob Blackman Mactaggart, Clive Lewis, Jo Steven, Mr David Hanson Statement The Backbench Business Committee was established at the I am a dedicated backbencher and want to continue the beginning of the 2010-15 Parliament in June 2010, following previous chair’s role of championing issues of business put a recommendation from the Commons Reform or Wright forward for debate by colleagues from the back benches, from Committee, in November 2009. all parties in Parliament, on behalf of their constituents. Given the opportunity, I will remain open, approachable, friendly and It was established to determine the Backbench nominated attentive to colleagues from all sides of the House so that your business to be taken in the main Chamber of the House of voice and, through you, the voice of your constituents can be Commons or Westminster Hall on days or parts of days allotted heard. for Backbench business. 35 days per session were allotted, of which at least 27 had to be in the chamber. I appreciate that you are all extremely busy and therefore I have deliberately kept this brief. However, should you have any I am asking you to support my Candidacy to be Chair of the specific questions on the running of the committee from 2010 – Backbench Business Committee in this Parliament. 2015, how best to make an application to the committee in this With a long track record in local government, and as a member session, or any other general question about my candidacy please of the Backbench Business Committee for all but a few months to do not hesitate to contact me. of the last Parliament, I feel I have the necessary experience, Could I also refer colleagues to the Special report of the attributes and understanding to successfully fulfil the role. Backbench Business Committee HC1106 that we published on The Backbench Business Committee has been a vital vehicle to 26 March 2015. allow the voice of backbench Members of Parliament be heard in the Chamber of the House of Commons and in Westminster Hall. It has been a well-used tool in holding the executive to account, as well as airing issues that would otherwise be lost in the cut and thrust of dealing with Government business. The opportunity to hold backbench sponsored debates in the Chamber, such as the debates on the badger cull and on the Animal welfare Act 2006, through the role of the Backbench Business Committee, was new in the last Parliament and it is true to say that the role of the Committee itself is evolving over time. I am committed to ensuring that this process will continue should opportunities arise. BACKBENCH BUSINESS COMMITTEE Opposition Party Mr Barry Sheerman Nominated by Nominated by (Government party) (non-Government parties) Daniel Kawczynski, Mr Nigel Evans, Paul Blomfield, Dr Rupa Huq, Chris White, Martin Vickers, Bob Stewart, Sir Gerald Kaufman, Fabian Hamilton, Mr Gary Streeter, Jason McCartney, Robert Dr Alan Whitehead, Margaret Hodge, Neill, Mr Laurence Robertson, Jeremy Ann Clwyd, Mr Virendra Sharma, John Lefroy, Mr Steve Baker Pugh, Barbara Keeley, Sammy Wilson, Siobhain McDonagh, Jim Dowd, Michelle Thomson Statement The most interesting and innovative contributions to our As a very active backbencher, I have worked with colleagues debate often come, not from the Government or even from from all parties across a wide range of issues in select the Opposition, but from the ordinary backbencher with the committees, all party groups and parliamentary commissions. freedom to speak their mind. This is something we saw again From chairing the Education Select Committee for ten years and again in the last Parliament, where in a few short years I garnered extensive experience of working on a cross party the Backbench Business Committee transformed our work in basis and developing a consensual approach to problem solving. the House of Commons and empowered backbenchers to a Great ideas and campaigns come from all different political remarkable degree. It is one of the most successful innovations persuasions and I would make sure that the Committee was of Parliament in recent times and I plan to build on this balanced and impartial, giving a fair hearing to all parties. great success and the work of the committee brilliantly led by This is a very different House of Commons and we must make Natascha Engel in the last parliament. sure that every Member from every party has a full opportunity Having been a backbencher for most of my career, I know the to raise debates on the issues that matter to them and to their challenges we face in getting our voices heard and influencing constituents, and that the full impact of these debates is felt. policy. This has started to change for the better in recent years, Chairing the Backbench Business Committee is a vital role and and as Chair of the Committee I would vigorously defend the I intend to make us an even more powerful and positive force in rights of backbenchers in our vital task of holding the executive this Parliament. I would be very grateful for your support and and the party leaderships to account. These are early days for please don’t hesitate to get in touch any time to talk about my the Committee and its full potential has yet to be realised. plans for the Committee. I am committed to building a team that will champion the backbencher and fight for the maximum amount of time for backbench debates. Business, Innovation and Skills Committee LABOUR Candidates Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham) Iain Wright (Hartlepool) BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS COMMITTEE Labour Mr Adrian Bailey Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) Albert Owen, Mr Kevan Jones, Karl Turner, Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Neill, Rebecca Sue Hayman, Yvonne Fovargue, Mr Jim Harris, Mike Weir, Mr Peter Bone Cunningham, Mrs Louise Ellman, Angela Smith, Jessica Morden, Nick Thomas- Symonds, Gareth Thomas, Paul Blomfield, Kevin Barron, Jess Phillips, Rob Marris Statement I am standing for re-election to the chair of the Business Investment Innovation and Skills Select Committee because it has a Britain’s low productivity and poor levels of private sector vital role in backing British business to promote the wealth investment threaten a sustained economic recovery.