What procedural steps must I follow when submitting a Rule 267 notice to suspend rules?

When submitting a notice under Rule 267 for suspension of rules, you must clearly specify which particular rule you want suspended, explain why this suspension is necessary, and demonstrate that no other procedural device can adequately address your concern. Your notice must relate to business listed for that day, and you must establish why extraordinary circumstances justify interrupting the normal parliamentary schedule.

Rule 267 is considered a grave procedural intervention since it interrupts scheduled parliamentary business. The Chair scrutinizes these notices strictly and often rejects them if alternative parliamentary devices (like Zero Hour, Special Mentions, Calling Attention) could address the concern. Simply stating an issue is urgent is insufficient; you must demonstrate why it cannot wait for normal procedural channels.

If your notice is admitted, you will move the motion when called upon, make a brief statement, and the House will vote on suspending the rules. Remember that Rule 267's proviso states: "this Rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules." This means you must first exhaust other procedural options before invoking this exceptional mechanism.

The Chairman's ruling of 8 December 2022 emphasized: "The rule requires certain things to be indicated and duly spelt out... I must get assistance as to which rule the Member wants to be suspended... the premise on which the rule is required to be suspended." The ruling of 19 December 2022 further noted that "Suspension of the work of this House can take place under extraordinary situations."