Adjournment Motions for Emergency Debates

Introduction

The purpose of this type of adjournment motion is to allow an emergency debate on a "specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration". A request for leave to move the adjournment of the House under the relevant Standing Order^[*] must be made after the conclusion of Routine Proceedings. The Speaker must then decide, based in part on the criteria set out in the Standing Orders, whether the subject matter of the proposed debate is such that it should be brought before the House. The Speaker is not, however, required to give any reasons for accepting or rejecting a Member's application for an emergency debate. Should the Speaker accept the application, then the House must decide whether it will grant the Member leave to move the motion. If the House does consent, the Speaker usually defers the start of the debate until 8:00p.m. the same day, or 3:00 p.m. on a Friday.