BBC Democracy Live - Labour calls for parliamentary debate on sexual harassment 28 February 2013 Last updated at 12:23 Help Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle has called for Parliament to hold a debate on sexual harassment in the wake of claims made against the Lib Dems' former chief executive Lord Rennard. Police are currently investigating whether criminal activity took place. "While the party hierarchy bury their heads in the sand, victims are being let down," Ms Eagle stated. She asked for a debate to mark International Women's Day on 8 March "on the sexual harassment of women and the culture of silence which all too often surrounds it." Leader of the Commons Andrew Lansley replied that the parliamentary schedule "doesn't allow us to have a debate on that day" and advised her to take the matter up through an opposition day or backbench business debate. But his remarks were followed by a protest from Labour chair of the Backbench Business Committee, Natascha Engel. She requested that the government give her committee its full allocation of time. "We have got two provisional days booked in and nothing more on the horizon which falls one day at least short," she said, before adding there were 13 backbench business debates still to be tabled. Mr Lansley answered that the total amount of time for such debates was 27 days in a session and he was "confident we are going to meet and exceed that." The Backbench Business Committee gives backbench members the opportunity to bring forward debates of their choice. The committee can consider any subject for debate, including those raised in e-petitions or national campaigns but an MP must make the case for their consideration.