What is an urgent question?
Michael Gray
Updated on February 06, 2026
If an urgent or important matter arises which an MP believes requires an immediate answer from a government minister, they may apply to ask an urgent question. MPs may request that the Speaker considers their application for an Urgent Question each day.
How long is an urgent question?
The Government decide which minister will respond to your urgent question. When the Speaker calls your name, you read out your urgent question and the minister answers (for up to three minutes). You can then make a brief response (for up to two minutes). The minister replies.
How are oral questions different in the House of Lords?
House of Lords oral questions Question Time takes place at the beginning of the day’s business for up to 30 minutes on Mondays to Thursdays. Lords questions are to the Government as a whole, not to particular government departments (as they are in the Commons).
How can I ask questions in Parliament?
How to submit a written question online
- Go to the online MemberHub: Click ‘submit’ (towards the top of the screen) and choose ‘written question’.
- The Table Office will check your question and contact you if there is a problem. Once the Table Office has approved your question, it has been tabled.
What is an urgent question Parliament?
An urgent question requires a government minister to come to the House of Commons Chamber and give an immediate answer without prior notice. An MP can apply to the Speaker for an urgent question if they think a matter is urgent and important, and there is unlikely to be another way of raising it in the House.
Does Prime Minister know questions before Pmq?
Most MPs table the same engagements question and so after it has been asked for the first time, any other MPs who have tabled the same question are simply called to ask an untabled question, meaning that the Prime Minister will not know what questions will be asked.
How long are Prime ministers questions?
Question time is 45 minutes long and questions are limited to the leaders of parliamentary caucuses (which must consist of at least ten members of either house).
Are whips MPs?
Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party’s contribution to parliamentary business. One of their responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party members vote, and vote the way their party wants.
