Documents to download

The Backbench Business Committee has responsibility for scheduling non-ministerial business in the House of Commons. Standing Orders provide for it to schedule business on 35 days or their equivalent, in each session. At least 27 days are for debates in the House of Commons Chamber and the rest in Westminster Hall. The Backbench Business Committee also has responsibility for choosing the number and subjects and format of topical debates.

The Committee consists of a chair and seven other members. The chair is elected at the beginning of each session, by the whole House. In March 2012, the House passed a motion to require the chair to come from a party not in Government. The House changed the way in which members of the Committee were elected but agreed that they should continue to be elected each session. Members of the Backbench Business Committee are elected by their own party, in the same way that members of select committees are elected. Provision was also made to permit members of the smaller parties in the House to take part in discussions of the Backbench Business Committee.


Documents to download

Related posts