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Debate on e-petition on stopping female genital mutilation in UK

5 March 2014

On Monday 10 March, MPs took part in a general debate on an e-petition relating to stopping female genital mutilation in the UK. The Committee used its powers to convene a sitting in Westminster Hall from 4.30 – 7.30pm on the subject of the e-petition.

Watch the debate and read the transcript

This debate began at 4.30pm and opened by Keith Vaz and Pauline Latham.

This debate relates to the 'Stop female genital mutilation in the UK' e-petition.

How the subject was selected

The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee following representation from Keith Vaz and Pauline Latham James on 25 February.

Backbench Business Committee

The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays at 3pm to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns.

An MP must make a representation before the Committee for an e-petition or petition to be debated; e-petitions exceeding the Government's 100,000 signature threshold are not automatically allocated backbench time.

The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on Parliament TV.

Further Information