MPs' Guide to Procedure

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find guidance on temporary procedures during the pandemic including voting, questions and statements. Members can find detailed guidance on participating virtually and voting on the Parliamentary intranet (please note: this link will only work if you have a parliamentary email account.)

What happens in the Chamber in an emergency debate

The Speaker will call the MP who requested the debate to make the first speech. If this is you, you start your speech by saying, “I beg to move,” and then you read out the motion and make your speech.

A minister and Opposition frontbenchers from the two largest Opposition parties will speak in the debate. The Speaker may call them next, and then other MPs who want to speak. If lots of MPs want to speak, the Speaker may impose a time limit, but not until after your opening speech.

You can make another short speech at the end of the debate to sum up.

If the debate ends before the scheduled end time, the Speaker will ask the House to decide on the motion, with or without a vote.

If an MP is still talking at the scheduled end time for the debate, the motion lapses, and the House moves on to the next item of business without deciding on the motion.