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Urgent Question on the Border Force

4 September 2013

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

Minister of State at the Home Office, Mark Harper, responded to an urgent question asked by Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, in the House of Commons on border force policies, following the publication of the National Audit Office report, on Wednesday 4 September 2013

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.

Watching proceedings from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.  

This article was produced by the Commons Digital Outreach Team. Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.