Private Member’s Bills

Introducing Private Members’ Bills

Like other Public Bills, Private Members’ Bills can be introduced in either House and must go through the same set stages. However, as less time is allocated to these Bills, it’s less likely that they will proceed through all the stages.

To introduce a Bill a Member needs to provide its short title (by which it is known) and its long title (which describes briefly what it does). Complete texts are not necessary and some Private Members’ Bills are never published in full.

There are three ways of introducing Private Members’ Bills in the House of Commons: the Ballot, the Ten Minute Rule and Presentation.

The Ballot

Ballot Bills have the best chance of becoming law, as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available. The names of Members applying for a Bill are drawn in a ballot held at the beginning of the parliamentary year. Normally, the first seven ballot Bills get a day’s debate.

Ten Minute Rule

Ten Minute Rule Bills are often an opportunity for Members to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of existing legislation, rather than a serious attempt to get a Bill passed. Members make speeches of no more than ten minutes outlining their position, which another Member may oppose in a similar short statement. It is a good opportunity to raise the profile of an issue and to see whether it has support among other Members.

Presentation

Any Member may introduce a Bill in this way as long as he or she has previously given notice of their intention to do so. Members formally introduce the title of the Bill but do not speak in support of it – they rarely become law.

Private Members’ Bills from the Lords

Private Members’ Bills introduced in the Lords go through the same stages as any other Public Bill. Once completed, and if an MP supports the Bill, it continues in the Commons. Lords Private Members’ Bills are treated like other Private Members’ Bills, but do not have priority over Bills introduced in the Commons. They are therefore unlikely to have much, if any, time devoted to them.

Voicing opposition to a Private Members’ Bill

Members of the public who want to voice their objections to Private Members’ Bills can do so by:

• writing to their MP or a Lord
• writing to the government department responsible for the Bill
• lobbying Parliament