Backbench Business Committee

The committee considered six applications for Chamber or Westminster Hall debates. Substantively, witnesses pressed for debate time on medical misogyny and women’s health funding, Windrush Day and Home Office injustices, leasehold reform and regulation of property managing agents ahead of a promised Bill, unpaid carers and the carers’ allowance scandal, reform of vascular care and NHS accountability, and a cross-party push for a road map to a smoke-free country under the new Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026. Several applicants asked for timely slots, often before recess or around key awareness days, and some were willing to accept Westminster Hall if Chamber time proved difficult.

On 2026-06-02 the Backbench Business Committee examined 12 debate applications across a range of issues, from national security implications of biodiversity loss to local concerns about solar farms, the infected blood compensation scheme, commemoration, antisemitism, Father’s Day, green belt protection, health prevention, coastal deprivation, coach industry, and food security. The session highlighted broad cross‑party support for several topics and identified potential department responders (e.g., Home Office for antisemitism, Women and Equalities for Father’s Day, Treasury for coastal isolation, EFRA/Defra for food security). No formal government commitments were announced; witnesses urged timely debates and departmental engagement, with clerks to determine timing and allocation. The focus remains on enabling Parliament to scrutinise urgent policy questions and signal government alignment through future debates.

The Backbench Business Committee discussed a member-submitted request for a Chamber debate on the water industry. Key points: (1) the committee’s view that the debate should relate to areas of Government responsibility and the proposed title should reflect that scope, (2) a procedural note that prorogation affects scheduling and the request will be considered and, if approved, added to the Waiting List, and (3) witness Peter Prinsley raised CSOs concerns about the private ownership of water companies and the health of chalk streams, including references to Channel 4's Dirty Business and the River Gipping, while noting his honorary presidency with the Bury Water Meadows Group. There was no explicit government policy commitment announced in this session.

Four backbench debate applications were scrutinised: (1) MS support during MS Awareness Week, (2) vaccination uptake in England, (3) lifelong sex education, and (4) inequalities in cancer care. Key government positioning and policy signals included a stated Government commitment to addressing long-term conditions such as MS; concerns about measles elimination status and vaccination uptake, with calls to reassess accessibility and information issues; advocacy for lifelong sex education as a cross‑cutting policy, and emphasis on reducing the cancer postcode lottery via the England cancer plan. The session also highlighted parliamentary rules for main Chamber debates (needing 50:50 Government/Opposition representation) and a preference for longer debates (e.g., 90 minutes) where possible.

Three Backbench Business Committee applications for Westminster Hall debates were examined: Nolan principles, fly-tipping in residential areas, and protecting cask ale as intangible cultural heritage. For Nolan principles, Susan Murray committed to providing the missing three Government Bank Bencher names and to introduce a substantive motion to enable a Chamber debate, stating, “I believe I can. I apologise for that mistake. I will go and make sure I get those names.” The session also noted the 30-year anniversary of the Nolan principles and the aim to uphold integrity across public life. On fly-tipping, Melanie Onn signalled a Westminster Hall debate to interrogate forthcoming government proposals, with a preference that MHCLG respond because local government is on the frontline; timing of proposals remains unclear, with ministerial hints of penalties on driving licences but no firm timetable. For cask ale, Baggy Shanker advocated a debate to recognise its cultural heritage, with DCMS identified as the department likely to respond; there is cross-party interest and CAMRA involvement. The meeting highlighted inter-departmental responsibilities (DEFRA vs MHCLG for fly-tipping; DCMS for heritage) and cross-party interest in the issues, though procedural actions remain contingent on motions and additional nominations.

Two Backbench Business Committee applications were heard: Jim Shannon for a Westminster debate on the humanitarian impact of conflicts on older people, and Caroline Voaden for a Westminster Hall debate on access to face-to-face banking in rural areas. Shannon argues older people are often overlooked in conflict zones and calls for the UK to lead inclusive humanitarian and peacebuilding strategies. Voaden highlights bank-branch closures and the need for in-person banking, especially for the elderly. There were no explicit government commitments or legislation announced; scheduling decisions will be made by clerks.