PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS

The main instigator of legislation is the Government, however MPs and Peers can also introduce legislation. Bills that are introduced in this way are known as Private Members' Bills.

Forms of Private Members Bills

For MPs there are three ways in which a Private Members Bill can be introduced to Parliament: through the Private Members Bill Ballot, as the 10 Minute Rule Bill or as a Presentation Bill.

Members of the House of Lords can also introduce Private Members Bills and there are few restraints on Peers if they wish to do so. The main consideration for Members of the House of Lords is the remote likelihood that the House of Commons will find time to debate the Bill. Private Members Bills which are initiated in the House of Lords are very unlikely to become law, unless they have the backing of the Government. A recent example of just such a law is the Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill. This Bill was lost (lack of Parliamentary time) just before the 2001 General Election, but was reintroduced by a Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord Tim Clement Jones in the Autumn of 2001. It received cross party and crucially Government support, and later passed into law.