PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS
Although Government Bills take precedence in the 
Commons, individual MPs may also introduce legislation 
of their own. Time is limited and there is considerable 
competition. One way in which the Bills to be presented 
are chosen is in a ballot conducted by the Chairman of 
the Ways and Means Committee. In the House timetable, 
some Fridays are set aside for reading and debating Private 
Members' Bills.

However, even if a Bill is selected in the ballot, it can be 
very difficult to get it through the various stages to become law. Controversial Bills in particular may not get the time they require because opposing MPs deliberately spend too long debating uncontroversial Bills and amendments.