This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8380391.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iddon wins ballot to set own law Iddon wins ballot to set own law
(about 1 hour later)
Labour's Brian Iddon has topped the annual MPs' ballot to get a shot at making their own law.Labour's Brian Iddon has topped the annual MPs' ballot to get a shot at making their own law.
Fellow Labour MPs David Chaytor, Andrew Gwynne and Albert Owen followed him in the private members' bills ballot.Fellow Labour MPs David Chaytor, Andrew Gwynne and Albert Owen followed him in the private members' bills ballot.
They will be given parliamentary time to launch bills but to get them through they must have government and cross-party support. But with a tight Parliamentary timetable, the government is reducing the time allocated for private bills from 13 days to six.
Bolton South East MP Mr Iddon came 17th in the 2002 ballot but still got his Marine Safety Bill through Parliament.Bolton South East MP Mr Iddon came 17th in the 2002 ballot but still got his Marine Safety Bill through Parliament.
But the government already faces time pressures on its own bills, announced in the Queen's Speech, and has admitted it will not get all of them through before the general election, which must be called by June 2010 and at which Mr Iddon is retiring. However this Parliamentary session will be cut short by the general election which must be called by June 2010 and at which Mr Iddon is retiring.
With the government already facing time pressures on its own bills, Commons leader Harriet Harman told MPs on Thursday it would have to reduce time available for private members' bills as a "question of proportionality".
TOP TEN FROM BALLOT Brian Iddon, LabDavid Chaytor, LabAndrew Gwynne, LabAlbert Owen, LabJulie Morgan, LabAnthony Steen, ConAlistair Burt, ConJohn Smith, LabChris Grayling, ConNigel Dodds, DUPTOP TEN FROM BALLOT Brian Iddon, LabDavid Chaytor, LabAndrew Gwynne, LabAlbert Owen, LabJulie Morgan, LabAnthony Steen, ConAlistair Burt, ConJohn Smith, LabChris Grayling, ConNigel Dodds, DUP
The bills already stand a slim chance of becoming law and must command cross-party and government support if they are to do so.
Mr Iddon's office said that he did not yet know what subject he would choose for his bill.Mr Iddon's office said that he did not yet know what subject he would choose for his bill.
But they had already been contacted by campaign groups within half an hour of his name being drawn on Thursday morning. As his name was first out of the ballot, his will be the first to be debated.But they had already been contacted by campaign groups within half an hour of his name being drawn on Thursday morning. As his name was first out of the ballot, his will be the first to be debated.
MPs do not have to decide on the subject of their bills for some weeks and in the meantime are subject to intense lobbying from pressure groups, campaigners and their own colleagues.MPs do not have to decide on the subject of their bills for some weeks and in the meantime are subject to intense lobbying from pressure groups, campaigners and their own colleagues.
Last year's winner, Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan, successfully piloted an Autism Bill through Parliament which became law in October.Last year's winner, Conservative MP Cheryl Gillan, successfully piloted an Autism Bill through Parliament which became law in October.
Another Conservative, Michael Fallon, topped the bill the previous year and got a planning and energy bill, relating to energy efficiency in new homes, made law.Another Conservative, Michael Fallon, topped the bill the previous year and got a planning and energy bill, relating to energy efficiency in new homes, made law.
The ballot is held every year, on the second Thursday of the parliamentary session. Time for private members' bills is limited and the ballot allows for a degree of prioritising. Several Fridays are set aside for debates.The ballot is held every year, on the second Thursday of the parliamentary session. Time for private members' bills is limited and the ballot allows for a degree of prioritising. Several Fridays are set aside for debates.