Tory MP George Young steps up e-petition pressure

Talks on how and when e-petitions should be addressed are currently under way

Government business manager Sir George Young is stepping up pressure to force MPs to debate the substance of e-petitions which have attracted 100,000 signatures or more.

He told MPs that talks with the Commons Procedure Committee on how it should be done were already under way. The Backbench Business Committee is also being consulted on how time can be found for debates on issues of demonstrable public concern.

He was responding to a call from Bury North Tory MP David Nuttall for a statement on government plans for popular debates.

The Coalition Agreement between the Liberal Democrats and the Tories was in favour of e-petitions but there are lingering concerns among MPs over a procedure that could allow well-organised pressure groups rather than ordinary voters to get issues onto the agenda, while senior civil servants fear an upsurge of public feeling on an issue could force their hands.

Sir George called for a full-scale debate on the issue.