On 26/01/07, Mike Stevens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > From what was said there, if that Bill were passed (and the proposer himself > seems to thong it unlikely) then canoeists and rowers would have a statutory > right of access to the canal system.
This looks like a so-called "10 minute rule bill" to me. This gives backbench MPs who win a ballot the chance to speak for 10 minutes on a bill of their choice. I think there are two a week. But they never get any further than the introductory speeches, and (like EDMs) are campaign opportunities. They are not to be confused with Private Members' Bills. There is a ballot once a year for these and there are then a number of Fridays devoted to them. If short and uncontroversial they have some chance of becoming law. But they are still quite easy for determined opponents to stop simply by making such long speeches they run out of time. Occasionally a government will ensure they get sufficient time to overcome such tactics (IIRC this is what happened with David Steel's bill that legalised abortion) while still allowing a free vote. -- Nigel Stanley
