Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Leader of the House – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 18 October 2005.
Hugh Bayley
NATO Parliamentary Assembly UK Delegation
2:30,
18 October 2005
Over the years, private Member's legislation has established some important rights and, sometimes, duties, for citizens of this country. I have been a Member of the House for more than 13 years, and apart from a short time when I inhabited the front bench, I have dutifully entered the ballot every year to try to get selected to put forward a Bill, but have never been successful even in securing the last place. The House would benefit if more time were available for private Member's legislation. Will my right hon. Friend ask the Committee to consider whether Wednesday evenings, on which we no longer sit, could be used to discuss private Member's Bills?
A proposal for new legislation that is debated by Parliament.
The first bench on either side of the House of Commons, reserved for ministers and leaders of the principal political parties.