Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequor, Ed Balls, asked an urgent question in the House of Commons on the Government’s economic policy following the loss of the UK's AAA credit rating.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, responded to the question on behalf of the Government.
Urgent questions
At times MPs may want to put an urgent question to a Minister. If a matter of public importance has arisen, which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to the Speaker to put forward such a question.
The relevant government department would be informed at once. If the Speaker agrees, the question will be asked after that day’s Question Time.
Once the MP has asked the main question, they are allowed to ask a supplementary question. Other MPs will then be called to ask further questions on the same subject.
Image: PA / Dominic Lipinski