Step-by-step:
These steps are for you as an MP, rather than your staff, although your staff can help you put the application together.
- You can apply to the Speaker's Office to ask an urgent question on a day when the House is meeting, for answer that same day.
- Applications must be submitted by:
- 11.30am on Mondays
- 10.00am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- 8.15am on Thursdays
- 8.30am on Fridays
- The application should set out your question in the form “If he/she will make a statement on…”, (which is not allowed in ordinary oral questions). Your question should be one short sentence, and should be addressed to the relevant Secretary of State.
- Your application should explain why the matter is urgent. To be judged as ‘urgent’, a question should relate to a very recent or imminent event or development. You should set out your explanation, including background, context and evidence in a few paragraphs, and no more than two sides of A4. You may wish to use the Word template for Urgent Question applications.
- Your application should include any relevant interests.
- Once you have written your application, email it to the Speaker’s Office from your account, or sign it and deliver it by hand, or ask your staff to deliver it.
- You can’t apply for more than one urgent question on the same day.