Procedure of the House

Lord Sewel Excerpts

Wednesday 24th April 2013 Lords Chamber

Moved by

[The Chairman of Committees]

To resolve that this House establish, for the duration of the 2013–14 Session of Parliament, a Backbench Debates Committee;

That the Committee be appointed to schedule debates, to be moved by backbench and Crossbench members, or by Lords Spiritual:

During the time currently set aside for balloted debates;

On at least one day in Grand Committee for every six sitting weeks in the session;

That the Committee schedule a one-hour topical Question for Short Debate each week, from the start of the session until the end of January, to be taken on Thursday between the two time-limited debates;

That the Procedure Committee review and report on the work of the Backbench Debates Committee before the end of the 2013–14 session, with a view to recommending whether or not the Backbench Debates Committee should be established as a sessional select committee.