debates

• debates are an opportunity for MPs to look at the creation and amendment of laws as well as national and international issues
• what is often done to see wether a majority support or reject a discussed bill?

  votes
• in the HOL when do general debates take place?

  one day a week
• what happened with Cameron and the syrian airstrikes?

  • cameron proposed air strikes against al-Assad’s forces to deter the use of chemical weapons
  • parliament disagreed and MPs said that they wanted evidence
  • links to the PMs prerogative powers -> they can use military intervention without support from the house
  • PM WILL get the approval due to convention
• in debates, MPs and peers are protected by what?

  parliamentary privilege, freedom of speech and the right of both houses to regulate their affairs
• MPs are free from the usual laws of what?

  slander and contempt of court
• as a result of parliamentary privilege, what can news outlets do?

  report on debates without the threat of persecution
• when are emergency debates used?

  when there is an urgent question or something of an urgent matter
• who can apply to the speaker for an emergency debate?

  any MP
• give an example of an emergency debate

  contaminated blood inquiry