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Urgent question on the BBC

12 November 2012

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, responded to an urgent question in the House of Commons on Monday 12 November 2012 on the resignation of the BBC Director-General, George Entwistle.

The question was asked by Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Harriet Harman.

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.