Committees

Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee Debates

Inquiry

The cross-party Modernisation Committee is holding an inquiry into Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee debates, as part of its ongoing work on how time is used in the Commons.

Backbench Business Committee debates offer MPs a vital route to raise issues on behalf of their constituents, and since its establishment the Committee has ensured that backbench voices are heard regularly.

The Petitions Committee has facilitated many debates on e-petitions started by members of the public, ensuring that issues with significant public support are brought before the House. Many of these debates have helped raise the profile of important issues and, in some cases, led to tangible action being taken.

The Modernisation Committee’s inquiry will look at whether the current allocation of time for Petitions and Backbench Business debates is appropriate and effective. It will also explore other issues such as whether some e-petitions debates should take place in the Chamber on a more regular basis.

MPs on the Committee will also explore the issues highlighted in the Backbench Business Committee’s 15-year anniversary report, and how the House can continue to support and strengthen the Committee’s work.

The Backbench Business Committee has 35 days allotted in each session for proceedings in the Chamber/Westminster Hall on backbench business, of which at least 27 should be in the Chamber. More information can be found on their website. The Petitions Committee can schedule a petition or petitions for debate in Westminster Hall on a Monday from 4.30pm, for up to three hours. More information is available here.

Terms of Reference

We are conducting this inquiry to consider the allocation of time to Backbench Business and Petitions debates in the wider context of the effective use of time in the House of Commons.

The Backbench Business Committee has 35 days allotted in each session forproceedings in the Chamber/Westminster Hall on backbench business, of which at least 27 should be in the Chamber. More information can be found on their website. The Petitions Committee can schedule a petition or petitions for debate in Westminster Hall on a Monday from 4.30pm, for up to three hours. More information is available here.

We will be exploring the following questions as part of our inquiry:

1. Is the current allocation of time for Petitions and Backbench Business debates appropriate and effective?

• What impact, if any, does the timing and scheduling of debates have on attendance?

2. Are the 35 days allocated to the Backbench Business Committee appropriate inthe context of other demands on the House’s time?

3. Is the current allocation of Backbench Business debates between the Chamber (27 days) and Westminster Hall (8 days) correct?

4. Are there any improvements that could be made to the Backbench Business Committee’s process to agree applications for backbench business debates(including ensuring debates are popular amongst members and on topical subjects)?

5. Are the existing mechanisms available for the Petitions Committee to hold debates in the Chamber (to apply via Backbench Business Committee, or to be allocated time by the Government) sufficient or should the Petitions Committee have guaranteed time in the Chamber?

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 23 June 2026
11:30am Private
11:45am Public
Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee Debates - Oral evidence 23 June 2026
11:45am
  • Sir David Natzler KCB (Former Clerk of the House of Commons and Clerk to the House of Commons Reform Committee at House of Commons)
  • Paul Evans CBE (Former Clerk of Committees in the House of Commons and a former Clerk of the Backbench Business Committee at House of Commons)
  • Dr Louise Thompson (Senior Lecturer in Politics at University of Manchester)
  • Dr Tom Fleming (Associate Professor in the UCL Department of Political Science, and Deputy Director at UCL Constitution Unit)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 9 June 2026
11:30am Private
11:45am Public
Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee Debates - Oral evidence 9 June 2026
11:45am
  • Natascha Engel
  • Ian Mearns
Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 19 May 2026
11:30am Public
12:15pm Private
Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee Debates - Oral evidence 19 May 2026
11:30am
  • Bob Blackman MP, Chair of the Backbench Business Committee 2024-2026 session
  • Jamie Stone MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee
Room 15, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.