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Old 06-09-2011, 10:49 PM #43
Omah Omah is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tralfamadore
Posts: 10,343
Omah Omah is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tralfamadore
Posts: 10,343
Thumbs down Riots: MPs fail to push for e-petition debate

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14810216

Quote:
An e-petition calling for benefits to be removed from people convicted of rioting will not be discussed by MPs for at least a month.

The petition - along with one demanding the release of papers relating to the Hillsborough Stadium disaster - gained more than 100,000 signatures, which means it can be debated in the Commons.

But no MP called for the demands to be discussed during a meeting on Tuesday.

This means the petitions cannot be debated until early October.

The government launched its e-petitions site last month, promising that those which pass the 100,000-signature mark should at least be considered for a Commons debate.

Following riots in many English cities, a petition demanding that those convicted of taking part lose "all benefits" rapidly gained support, making it the first to reach the threshold.
A petition calling for the release of cabinet papers relating to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster - in which 96 Liverpool FC fans died - also gathered the required backing.
The Backbench Business Committee discussed subjects for Commons debate on the next available date - 15 September - at its meeting. But no MP spoke in favour of debating the petitioners' demands, meaning they cannot be included.

Instead discussions will either focus on defence, the fishing industry, Kashmir or food security.
Yet another "Big Society" idea fizzles out - MPs settle for their personal issues instead .....
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