The Speaker just accused the government of treating Parliament with contempt

Sir Lindsay Hoyle just tore into the government.

The Speaker of the House of Commons says ministers told journalists about a major energy decision before they told Parliament.

And he made that rebuke in the Commons a few hours ago.

So here's what happened.

The North Sea Transition Authority gave the green light for gas production at the Jackdaw field. Miatta Fahnbulleh, the Energy Secretary, announced that decision to the media this morning. The news had already been trailed overnight.

MPs heard about it from the news, not from her.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle says that breaks the rules. The ministerial code says the biggest government announcements go to Parliament first, not the press.

He told the Commons that it was shameful the announcement was not made to the House first.

He didn't stop there. He said Sky News seemed more important to the department than the members on both sides of the House.

So where was Miatta Fahnbulleh while this was happening?

She was in Aberdeenshire. She was visiting Shell UK's St Fergus Gas Terminal, giving broadcast interviews about the decision.

And it was Michael Shanks, the Minister for Energy, left to stand up in the Commons and take the statement instead of her.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle made clear he thought that was unfair on Michael Shanks too. He told him he was sorry to have to raise this with him rather than with the secretary of state.

That's the Speaker saying the wrong minister was left to face Parliament.

And here's the thing. This isn't the first time.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the House this had happened before. He reminded Michael Shanks that he had promised him previously that these comments would be noted. A similar rebuke was reported last year, over how the government handled the strategic defence review.