Points of Order — Urgent Debates—Application Process

Point of order, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is it your intention to respond to urgent debate applications before question time, moving forward? I just note that that has happened on occasion, but also they have been responded to after questions. I’m just trying to figure out how you’re going to approach this moving forward.

A mix of both. Before we go on to oral questions, can I just—

Responding to that point of order, I am unaware of instances previously where Speakers have responded to applications before question time. Usually—or in the past, certainly—they’ve been responded to after question time, and, if they have been accepted, a debate then happens at that point. If it is your intention to respond to applications before question time, obviously, that gives the House a lot more notice to prepare for what is an urgent debate.

Or not. The Standing Orders were changed in 2023 to indicate that the Speaker can indicate whether a special debate has been granted at any time. I’m just sort of feeling my way to see how the House feels about that, and since we were doing a lot of other procedural things before we started question time, I thought why not get it out of the way. If that’s not something you’re happy with, then take it up with the Standing Orders Committee.

No, I’m delighted; I just wanted to know what was going on.

You’re delighted? You’re delighted not to get a debate—I’ll bear that in mind next time.