Item 5 is the election of a deputy convener. On December 16 1999, Parliament decided that the deputy convener of the Audit Committee should be from the Conservative party. I invite candidates for the position of deputy convener.
From the bruises on the faces of the pair of us, you will see that we that we have tussled for the honour—I deferred to Nick Johnston.
I suggest five-minute speeches from both candidates.
It is a case of one woman, one vote and the one woman just voted. [Laughter.]
Nick Johnston was elected deputy convener by acclamation.
The standing orders state that the deputy convener shall chair meetings of a committee in the absence of the convener and shall carry out the functions of the convener at other times if a convener is unable to act as convener.
Thank you, convener. I shall try to emerge from your shadow as and when necessary. However, I hope that you keep extremely healthy.
I thank members for their participation in our first meeting of the millennium.
Meeting closed at 15:09.