To ask the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what is the financial level of support available to each of the departmental Select Committees for the recruitment of the services of specialist advisers.

A total sum of £257,000 is available in sub-head A.2 (Department of the Clerk of the House) of the vote for House of Commons: administration (class XIX A, vote 1) in the current financial year to meet the fees and other costs of specialist advisers appointed to the Select Committees of the House. The House of Commons Commission does not impose any financial limit on individual Select Committees for the services provided by specialist advisers.