Backbench Business Committee

8 September 2026

Backbench Business Committee Actual start House of Commons

14:42 - 14:43
Order, order. 
14:43 - 15:05
Speaker 2
Welcome to the meeting of the Backbench Business Committee, where we'll be considering applications from colleagues for debates in the main chamber and also in Westminster Hall.  The first debate request is from John Glen for the future funding of our English cathedrals.  This is a request for a half-day debate in the chamber.  Over to you, John. 
15:05 - 15:59
Speaker 1
Thank you very much, Chair, and I really appreciate the opportunity to be here on behalf of what I think is significant interest for the country, but also members. 

And as the MP representing Salisbury and Salisbury Cathedral, I'm very keen to explore if there's will of the committee to give us time to look at a recent report that has been commissioned to look into the economic and wider impact of cathedrals in communities up and down the country.  I've secured a significant interest from at least firm interest from about 15 colleagues, but there are 42.  We haven't chased down all their offices yet, but I'm pretty confident we're going to get a much larger number.  The issue of the funding of cathedrals... 

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