CONFIDENTIAL
beginning of the Session when pressure
pressure of work on Government Bills will be at its greatest. Once Departments' proposals have been considered and agreed, it should be possible to carry out preparatory work on at least some of the Bills in advance of the Ballot. There is of course no guarantee that a particular Bill will be taken up. Your Department's list should include any Bills which have been offered or introduced in previous Session without success and which you have been offered or introduced in previous Sessions without success and which you would like to offer again.
16. To be suitable for offering to a Private Member a Bill should normally be short usually no more than 10 clauses, simple (non-technical), non-financial, though that is not an absolute requirement. They should generally be non-controversial in party political terms though that does not prevent inclusion in the list of Bills which might be particularly attractive to the Government's supporters. It may be unsuitable if it is likely to be unpopular with prominent non-parliamentary interest groups, but such proposals may be included on the list provided that the likely reaction of outside groups is explained. Each bid should be on a separate form and numbered in the Department's order of priority.
Overlap Between Lists
17. Departments may consider that some Bills merit places in the Government programme but would also be suitable for offering to Private Members. If genuinely suitable for both categories they should be included on both lists, with a cross-reference in each
entry to the other one. Inclusion in the Private Members' list as well as the Government one will not necessarily lead to a Bill being excluded from the latter by FLG Committee. It is important for each entry to make clear whether there are any special timing considerations which could influence the choice which is finally
made.
Cabinet Office December 1991
CONFIDENTIAL