Frequently asked questions
A list of the more frequently asked questions is shown below. Select from the list of questions below for the answers.
- Why haven't I received an email asking me to validate my email address?
- Why do I need to choose a government department when I create a new e-petition?
- What if more than one government department is responsible for my e-petition?
- Why can't I change my e-petition or correct spelling errors?
- Is there a list of signatories for each e-petition?
- Why do you say my e-petition ‘could’ be debated in the House of Commons?
Why haven't I received an email asking me to validate my email address?
You should check your spam or junk mail folder as the email may have ended up in there. It is also possible during times when the e-petitions site is really busy that the email may take up to 4 hours to be sent.
Why do I need to choose a government department when I create a new e-petition?
Each e-petition needs to be checked to make sure it complies with the terms and conditions of the service. By choosing the government department responsible, your e-petition can be checked quickly by the most appropriate person.
It also means the right department will see how many signatures your e-petition has and start the arrangements for a debate in the House of Commons, if appropriate.
What if more than one government department is responsible for my e-petition?
If the subject of your e-petition is covered by more than one department, choose the one you think is ‘most’ appropriate. Don’t worry if you’re not certain; if the department you choose isn’t responsible, they will send it to the one that is.
Why can't I change my e-petition or correct spelling errors?
People sign your e-petition based on what it says at the time they sign. If you change the e-petition later, even to change small things such as spelling mistakes, the context may have changed and the people that have already signed it may no longer want their signature associated with the e-petition.
Is there a list of signatories for each e-petition?
We keep a record of who has signed each e-petition and show the total number of signatures. We also show the name of the person who created the e-petition, but we don’t show the names or other details of any of the signatories.
Why do you say my e-petition ‘could’ be debated in the House of Commons?
If your e-petition reaches the 100,000 signatures, it is eligible for a debate in the House of Commons. However a debate may not be possible:
- if the subject of the e-petition is currently going through legal proceedings, it may be inappropriate for a debate to be held;
- if there has just been, or is about to be, a debate in the House of Commons on the same topic as your e-petition.
