Private Members' Bills

Private Members' Bills

A private members' bill (PMB) in the Parliament of the United Kingdom is a type of public bill that can be introduced by either members of the House of Commons or House of Lords who are not Ministers. Less parliamentary time is given to such bills and as a result only a minority of PMBs actually become law. Such bills can be used however to create publicity for a cause or issue and can affect legislation indirectly.

1988

On the 23rd February 1988, MP Jimmy Hood tried to "bring in a Bill to require an annual report to Parliament on progress made in investigating the causes, effects and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis." This ultimately failed, despite repeated attempts, to progress any further due to repeated objections from unnamed Members of Parliament.

1991

On the 13th March, MP Jimmy Hood tried again. He "presented a Bill to make provision for an annual report to Parliament on matters relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis, including progress made in investigating the causes, effects and treatment of the disease, diagnostic practice and information derived from national epidemiological surveys", again this was defeated by repeated objections.

2010

On a webpage dated November 2010, an article by Margaret Williams on the Invest in ME website claims that "The short title, extent and commencement states:

“This Act may be cited as ‘The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Sufferers’ Act 1988. This Act extends to Northern Ireland. This Act shall come into force on 1st January 1989”." Other than this claim, there does not seem to be any other reference to "The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Sufferers’ Act 1988" anywhere, particularly in the official records of Public General Acts from 1988.