Politics HW – Scrutiny & Key Terms – SW 040922

Early Day Motions

Motion submitted for debate with no fixed date, meaning very few get debated. Most exist
for the purpose of drawing attention to a topic or levying support for a particular cause,
ranging from the public to other MPs. Those who are not Ministers or impartial members
are allowed to sign EDMs, which show support for these ideas to be debated.

Backbench Business Committee

Schedules debate topics suggested by Backbenchers – this covers a broad range of things
discussed, and is in charge of overseeing the e-petitions system, but traditional paper
petitions are also used. An MP must fill in a form by 2:30pm by Friday, and will usually
attend one of the Committee’s weekly (Tuesday) public meetings to make a case for their
debate. Not all debates are scheduled as there simply is not enough time, so the Committee
looks at multiple criteria to select topics.

Debates in Westminster Hall

These debates present MPs with the chance to raise local or national concerns and a
government minister will respond – any MP can take part in a debate, which have “general”
motions which are worded in neutral terms (“That this House has Considered [a specific
matter]”). The debates are always chaired by a Deputy Speaker; while these debates have
no impact on legislation, they are important to have as they show political support and
encourage discussion outside of the main parliamentary chamber. These occur happen in
smaller committee rooms, and MPs sit around a horseshoe shaped table to promote
cooperation. These are much more specific than main chamber debates, and are a good way
for MPs to talk about subjects which are rarely touched on in the Main Chamber.

MPs apply to hold debates through the Speaker’s Office, in interims of 30,60,90 minutes,
and then they hold a ballot to decide which debates occur when. They happen on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Adjournment Debates
Half-hour adjournment debates at the end of each day, and present backbenchers with the
opportunity to ask Ministers questions – subject matters vary. They are apply for an
adjournment debate via the Speaker’s Office, and are held in the side chamber of
Westminster Hall. A ballot is held to decide which MP gets to choose the topic, and a much
larger all-day debate is held on the findal day before parliamentary recess, and MPs do not
have to give advance notice of the topics which they intend to raise, and the leader of the
House replies at the end of the debate to all of the issues raised.

At the end of the day's main business the Speaker calls a government whip to move the
motion 'That this House do now adjourn'. The MP who has been allocated the debate is
then called to speak and the Minister is given time to reply. The MP who initiated the
debate does not have the opportunity to speak again after the Minister has concluded.
Other MPs may attend and make interventions if they are accepted.
House of Commons Petitions Committee
 Considers e-petitions submitted by members of the public on the parliament
website. Example of direct democracy 
 They can ask for more information from government, petitioners, relevant people or
organisations around the UK 
 Made up of 11 backbenchers from govt and opposition parties 
 Number of seats each party has reflects the whole HoC. Currently 6 Tories, 4 Labour,
1 SNP 

Emergency Debates 
 Debate called at short notice on a matter of
urgent consideration. Allows HoC to take decisions on parliamentary business away f
rom the hands of the government – important for scrutiny especially on
important decisions which emergency debates would be called for 
 MP applies to Speaker for an emergency debate between Monday and Thursday 
 If the Speaker lets them, they get 3 minutes in the HoC to convince other MPs to
support their emergency debate 
 Speaker then decides based on the speech whether to submit the application to the
House. If they do, the House must agree to hold the debate. Very reliant on having a
good Speaker 
 If it is, usually the debate takes place the next day. 
 Question: 'That this House has considered the matter of [topic]'. Doesn't call on
the government to make any changes --> lack of scrutiny? 
 Number of emergency debates per Parliament varies. E.g. none between 1997-2001
– big Labour majority, relative stability. 22 between 2017-2019 –
Brexit, hung parliament, a lot of instability.
 Apart from that since 1979 it has never exceeded 10 per parliament