10 MINUTE RULE BILL

Once the Bills drawn from the Ballot have been presented (1st Reading) in the House of Commons, it is possible for other MPs to introduce a Bill on certain days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) throughout the Parliamentary Session. MPs must be the first in the queue at the Public Bill Office (in the House of Commons) on the Tuesday or Wednesday three weeks prior to the date on which they want to introduce their Bill.

In the past MPs have been known to sleep overnight outside the Bill office in order to be first. In reality now this no longer happens. There is currently an informal arrangement between the political parties which divides the number of 10 Minute Rule Bill slots available in the Parliamentary Session between themselves. The parties then allocate their share amongst their own MPs in their own way. A chosen MP still has to appear at the Public Bill Office three weeks before presentation of his Bill and give notice, but the element of sleepless frustration has been removed.