Private Members’ Bills (Lords)

Private Members' Bills are Public Bills that are introduced by back-benchers. Any peer can introduce a Bill on any day. Private members' Bills have to wait for time to be allocated to them via the Usual Channels. They tend to be debated during dinner breaks or on Fridays.

A Bill without Government support is unlikely to become law. The nature of the way that Lords business is decided means that a Bill will wide support in the Upper House might well complete its initial passage and be passed to the Commons before the Government 'kills' it.

The Government can always adopt a private member's Bill if it wishes. This means that the Bill is allocated Government time and is much more likely to become law.