MPs' Guide to Procedure

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find guidance on temporary procedures during the pandemic including voting, questions and statements. Members can find detailed guidance on participating virtually and voting on the Parliamentary intranet (please note: this link will only work if you have a parliamentary email account.)

How to apply for a Presentation Bill

These steps are for you as an MP, although your staff can help with step 1.

Steps

  1. Decide on a short title (a name) and a long title (a description of what it does) for your bill. Look at the rules on Private Members’ Bills for help or ask the Public Bill Office (email PBOHOC@parliament.uk or phone 3254).
  2. Visit the Public Bill Office in person, or ask another MP to visit on your behalf, any time between 10 am and when the House finishes meeting. The earliest point you can apply is the day after the fifth Wednesday of the Session. Let the Public Bill Office know that you want to apply for a Presentation Bill and agree your short and long titles with them.
  3. Let the Public Bill Office know which day you want to present your bill. You can present a bill on any subsequent day the House is meeting.
  4. The Public Bill Office will give you a dummy bill, with the short and long title of the bill on it.
  5. You will present your bill after Question Time and any urgent questions or oral statements on Monday to Thursday or at the start of business on Fridays. Find out how to present a Bill in the Chamber.