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There was evident and widespread sympathy for Michael Martin in the Commons when he outlined his role, a minimal one, in the police raid on the offices of the Tory MP Damian Green.

Speaker Martin, the MP for Glasgow North East, noted in a faintly barbed aside that he had held his tongue until he had an opportunity to inform the reconvened House regarding the affair.

He had not, like others, had the "luxury" of going on television to offer his views.

As to substance, he said that, in future, a warrant would always be required for searches in the Commons: the police did not have one on this occasion, relying solely upon a written consent from the Serjeant-at-Arms.

Mr Martin signalled there would be a full debate in the Commons on Monday.

And he is setting up a committee of seven senior Parliamentarians to investigate the matter.

Not sure, though, that he entirely cleared up the issue.

He said he was alerted to a possible arrest - but was not explicitly asked for his consent.

MPs are unable, under procedure, to question the Speaker.

So nobody could ask him whether he had insisted upon being consulted, whether he felt he had been let down by the Serjeant and/or the police.

For me, Sir Menzies Campbell got rather swiftly to the nub of the matter.

While others noted, rightly, that MPs are not above the law, Sir Ming noted that this proviso must include the police too.

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