WHAT ARE PRIVATE MEMBERS BILLS ABOUT?

Generally speaking, the ideas for Private Members Legislation come through three main routes.

Individual MPs will often have pet-subject, on which they have campaigned for a considerable period of time. There may be a particular aspect of the campaign that can be well addressed through legislation, and this may form the basis of a Private Members Bill.

The Government of the day may well have a number of laws that it wishes to change but has not been able to give priority to because of the parliamentary timetable. A sympathetic MP, who is successful in the ballot, or who has a 10 Minute Rule Slot might provide a good opportunity to carry this legislation forward.

Private Members Bills provide a great opportunity for lobbying groups (groups who argue for particular causes – environment, health, education, arts, etc) to highlight a specific campaign through legislation. If ultimately, the Private Members Bill is successful, then the lobbying group will have achieved a significant campaigning goal. Most importantly and more often than not, Private Members Bills provide a high profile and potentially media rich opportunity to publicise a particular campaign.

During his time as an MP, Paul Tyler introduced three Bills: the Organic Food and Farming Targets Bill (after coming 16th in the ballot in 1999); Second Chamber of Parliament Bill (Presentation Bill - February 2005) and the Water Charges [Amendment Bill] (10 Minute Rule Bill, January 1996). In these cases, they were all causes that Paul had previously campaigned hard on.

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