What procedures were used to recruit Mr. Speaker's special adviser.

Mr. Speaker's special adviser was engaged via a contract for services, not an employment contract, under the House's normal procurement arrangements.

I ask the question according the maxim, "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"-Juvenal's famous phrase. Will the Chairman of the House of Commons Commission or the person acting for him state how the Speaker's arrangements will be kept under supervision by Parliament when the Speaker-in whom I have confidence-chairs the Commission?

I congratulate my hon. Friend on being Back Bencher of the year. Clearly, the House has all sorts of supervisory methods, procedures and actions, and I am sure that our rules and any supervision that is required in relation to the Speaker will be handled by the Commission We welcome the appointment, which is very important for the Speaker, enabling him to continue to carry out the programme that he announced to the House when he ran for Speaker. The appointment is therefore important to the House's future development, and we should all welcome it.

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that the appointment of a special adviser to the Speaker should be exactly the same as such appointments to Ministers? It is a very personal appointment and it should not go through other procedures. As someone who knows Mr. Tim Hames professionally, I can think of no better person for the appointment.

Yes, we all know Mr. Tim Hames from his days at The Times and welcome his crossing over from one island to another-I shall say no more than that. It is a good appointment, the decision was carefully taken, and we welcome him to the House. He will begin his duties on 3 November.