My answer to that is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Special advisers have never been called into question in terms of their behaviour. They are indeed expected to behave in accordance with their own code. I see no reason why there should be hearings for the appointment of special advisers.

In terms of the third amendment in the name of Paul Davies, this is a mischievous amendment, let’s be honest, as the party opposite well knows. There are Members here who will know that, where I take the view that the ministerial code has been breached, then action is taken. I don’t think that I can be accused of doing nothing if there are issues that need to be dealt with. Those decisions have been difficult and painful for all involved, but nevertheless it has been important to take those decisions. The suggestion is that somehow no decisions are ever taken in terms of breaches of the ministerial code. Members know otherwise. Besides, I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Education can act, now that she is in Government, as a guardian in terms of this in any event. I have no doubt at all that, when it comes to the Government that we have set up in the last few weeks, the ministerial code will be adhered to. All Ministers have been made absolutely aware of the code and have been informed that they must read the code as well.