An emergency debate is a debate called at short notice in the House of Commons on a matter that should have urgent consideration. An MP may apply to the Speaker for an emergency debate under the rules of Standing Order No. 24.
Members may seek an emergency debate from the Speaker on Mondays to Thursdays during sitting time. If the Speaker has given the member leave they will have three minutes to make a speech after question time. The Speaker then decides whether to submit the application to the House.
The House will have to agree that the debate takes place. If the House agrees the debate will take place on a future day, it is usually the next sitting day. The motion to be debated will be "That the House has considered the matter of [Topic]"
Applications for emergency debates in the House of Commons since May 2012
| MP |
Debate Title |
Date |
Decision of the House |
Proposal for debate |
| Peter Bone |
Wellingborough Prison |
17.06.12 |
Declined |
c854 |
| Tim Farron |
West Coast Main Line |
03.09.12 |
Declined |
c69 |
| Caroline Nokes |
The closure of the Ford assembly plant at Swaythling |
29.10.12 |
Declined |
c52 |
| Jeremy Lefroy |
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust special administrator |
05.03.13 |
Declined |
c863 |
| David Cameron |
Royal Charter on Press Conduct |
18.03.13 |
Agreed |
c630 |
You can find a list of all emergency debates going back to 1979 through the following Parliamentary Information List: