Natascha Engel, chair of the Backbench Business Committee responsible for timetabling e-petition debates, welcomed the move.

BBC: Business statement

Commons leader Sir George Young told MPs the timetabling vote would be postponed until after the summer recess.

BBC: UK Politics

Mrs Beckett said she expected the party would have delivered its manifesto commitments by the next election although she refused to give a commitment on the exact timetabling of a referendum.

BBC: Ministers shy away from PR pledge

After the debate on Mr Healey's bill, MPs voted on the timetabling of the next debate, which was consideration of Lords amendments to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

BBC: Ten minute rule motion

The government had been facing defeat on the vote and Lib Dem sources say Prime Minister David Cameron told his deputy Nick Clegg that the timetabling motion should be pulled to gather support for it among Conservatives over the next two months.

BBC: UK Politics