Private Members' Bills in the British Parliament

Originally published in 1956, P. A. Bromhead, with this book, filled a gap in the literature on the British Parliament by examining the role which Private Members' Bills had to play in the modern political system at the time. He describes in detail the procedure through which Private Members' Bills had to pass, and indicates the pitfalls which had to be negotiated. He examines the proceedings on such bills during the previous fifty years, with particular attention to the period since 1945, and observes the changes which had taken place in the habits of Parliament with regard to the types of bills introduced and the character of the debates on the bills. The author pays particular attention to the role of the Government and of the parties in this field, and suggests that a significant evolution was taking place, so that Parliament was coming to assign a special place of positive value to these measures in a fairly distinct field of legislative activity. Today it can be read in its historical context.

P. A. Bromhead studied at the University of Berne, then went on to graduate at Exeter College, Oxford. At the time of publication he was Lecturer in Political Theory and Institutions at the Durham Colleges in the University of Durham, UK.

Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. The Organization of Private Members' Time 2. A Historical Survey of Private Members' Bills Since 1900 3. The Interest Shown in the Debate 4. The Government and Private Members' Bills 5. The Role of Associations and of Royal Commissions 6. The Criteria of Suitability for Treatment in Private Members' Bills 7. Alternative Methods of Proposing Legislation 8. Conclusion. Appendixes. Bibliography. Index.