Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Social Security – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 January 2001.
Angela Eagle
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Social Security)
12:00,
29 January 2001
We dealt with that matter in some detail in last year's Adjournment Debate. People can apply for the benefit without a death certificate. The hon. Gentleman's constituent fell foul of backdating rules introduced by the previous Government, for which he voted. There are no plans to change the current arrangements.
An adjournment debate is a short half hour debate that is introduced by a backbencher at the end of each day's business in the House of Commons.
Adjournment debates are also held in the side chamber of Westminster Hall.
This technical procedure of debating a motion that the House should adjourn gives backbench members the opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them, and to have a minister respond to the points they raise.
The speaker holds a weekly ballot in order to decide which backbench members will get to choose the subject for each daily debate.
Backbenchers normally use this as an opportunity to debate issues related to their constituency.
An all-day adjournment debate is normally held on the final day before each parliamentary recess begins. On these occasions MPs do not have to give advance notice of the subjects which they intend to raise.
The leader of the House replies at the end of the debate to all of the issues raised.
