John Nicolson wins Private Members' Bill ballot
The SNP's John Nicolson has won the Private Members' Bill ballot.
The SNP's John Nicolson has won the Private Members' Bill ballot.
The MP for East Dunbartonshire was the last name announced by the deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle who carried out the draw in reverse order.
Some 458 MPs put their name forward to be in the ballot, all fighting for just 20 available slots.
Those who are drawn are offered the opportunity to be one of the first to introduce their own draft legislation for debate.
Meanwhile, the winner has first choice when it comes to choosing the Private Members' Bill Friday when their Bill will be debated.
However, there are only 13 such days in each parliamentary session.
And Private Members' Bills still have to go through all of the same stages as any other legislation.
The fact that there is only a limited amount of time set aside for their debate means that it is less likely they will become law.
However, those highest in the ballot have the best chance because they are prioritised for debate.
The top seven Bills usually have a plausible prospect of becoming law - if the Government supports them.
The magic seven in this year's ballot in order are: Mr Nicolson, Tory Bob Blackman, Tory Alec Shelbrooke, Labour's Pat Glass, Tory Gareth Johnson, the SNP's Mhairi Black and the SNP's Dr Eilidh Whiteford.
Mr Shelbrooke told the Press Association he is unsure which issue he will seek to tackle with his opportunity to bring forward a Bill.
He said: "There are a couple of points in my six-point plan and I have got several ideas running through my head.
"I don't want to say anything at the moment and set the hares running."
This is the first year that ballot balls have been used for the draw with tickets previously used.
Four Bills from last year's ballot became law: the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (Information) Act, the NHS (Charitable Trusts Etc) Act and the Riot Compensation Act.