1. FOCUS: What is a Private Members Bill? How are they chosen?
Are they effective means of legislation?

2. This is simply “A PUBLIC BILL that is proposed by an M.P”
It represents one of the only real methods M.P’s have of initiating legislation themselves
REMEMBER: The vast majority of legislation is introduced by the Executive
Private
Members
Bill

3. Proposed by Jack Brady, M
Proposed by Jack Brady, M.P, suggesting that ‘all 6th Year students should be provided with I Pads to make their study more accessible’

4. (Backbenchers)
I, Stephen Hare, M.P
Propose that there should be special privileges provided for making it on to a Lagan Sports team
I, Natasha Donnan, M.P
Propose that there should be little snack times set aside in class to add to enjoyment of lessons
I, Ross Campbell, M.P
Propose that there should be snoozy time allowed in school (or on any school visits)
Hey Ross

5. Great! So all M.P’s have a good chance of pushing forward their own legislative ideas??
The answer is NO!
Only a very small minority of PMB’s ever become law (less than 2 a year on average)
WHY?

6. This is the 1st major obstacle to PMB’s
This is the 1st major obstacle to PMB’s. There are only 3 real ways to push through a PMB
MP’s put forward their proposed Private Members Bills at the start of the Parliamentary year
Only 20 are then chosen by ballot.
The first 7 get a days debate
See video

7. It is not a real attempt to get a Bill passed.
This is an opportunity for Members to voice an opinion on a subject or aspect of legislation
It is not a real attempt to get a Bill passed.
Members make speeches of no longer than 10 minutes outlining their position. Other members may oppose them.
It is a good opportunity to raise the profile of issues and assess potential support

8. Again though they can raise issues or gauge support
I want to introduce a Bill suggesting Spurs should get automatically put through to the FA Cup Final
Any Member can theoretically introduce a Bill as long as they have given notice.
MP’s introduce simply the title but do not speak in favour of it.
They rarely become law
Again though they can raise issues or gauge support   

9. TIMING- The vast majority of bills are Government bills that have been TIMETABLED in to a very tight agenda. This leaves little time for PMB’s
SUPPORT: a PMB almost always requires either Government SUPPORT or NEUTRALITY
EXECUTIVE TACTICS: A Government not in support of a bill can arrange for it to be ‘TALKED OUT’ This is when M.Ps debate the bill for so long, it runs out of time  

10. PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS have in fact been highly useful politically and have been used to introduce some of the UK’s landmark legislation!
Government’s often give their support to PMB’s they would like to see passed but which they regard as controversial
Sometimes they support Bills that fit into their own legislative agenda

11. Murder Act (abolition of Death penalty) 1965
Abortion Act 1967
Murder Act (abolition of Death penalty) 1965
The Gangmasters Act 2004

12. I, Baron Matchett of Four Winds
Propose that there should be music allowances in work sessions of classes
We, Baroness Love and Baroness Fusco McKeown of Lagan demand more discipline and more impressions allowed in class.