The backbench business committee, whose chair will be paid extra in line with other select committees, will be elected by secret ballot and re-elected every session.

BBC: Commons backs 'historic' reforms

Students are elected by their colleagues in a secret ballot to represent the views of the student body at the meeting.

UNESCO: Country Profile: Uruguay

Former cabinet ministers Alan Johnson, Tessa Jowell and Yvette Cooper have also entered the ballot for 19 posts - elected by Labour MPs.

BBC: Shadow cabinet elections: 49 MPs enter ballot

At question time on 27 July 2010, Mr Clegg said holding the ballot on whether MPs should be elected by the alternative vote (AV) on the same day as next May's elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, as well as some local authorities in England, would boost turnout and save money.

BBC: Clegg rejects criticism of AV referendum timing