The Speaker got back to me and these are the answers he gave me.
Do you think that politician's heckling each other and generally acting rowdy in the house, particularly during Prime Ministers Questions is a worsening problem that needs to be addressed somehow?
I strongly support the institution of Prime Minister’s Questions and I have lost count of the number of Speakers and Parliamentarians I have met around the world who have told me that they wished their Prime Minister had to come to Parliament to answer questions each week. However, when the decibel level rises to a pitch, I fear that we spray paint our shop window. PMQs as a session is viewed more than any other proceeding of Parliament and my sense is that people do not mind passion but they do disapprove of excessive boisterousness and heckling. It is difficult to bring about change in the run up to an election but I hope that we will seek to do so early in the next Parliament.
I understand that the recent revelations about Carol Mills must have been immensely frustrating for you, but what were the attributes that she showed that made you think she was the best person to take forward the role?
She is highly intelligent and has an excellent record. However, many colleagues wanted the House to have a traditional Clerk and we are now looking to recruit such a person, together with a top-flight manager who will be the Director General of the House of Commons.
I have seen you do impersonations of fellow Tories Michal Gove, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Peter Tapsell. Are there any other impersonations you can do?
I have been known in the past to attempt impersonations of Enoch Powell and Tony Benn but they were merely amateur efforts.
Do you agree with the convention that the major parties don't stand against the Speaker at General Elections?
I respect the rationale behind the convention but ultimately it is not for me to decide whether it continues. It is up to the parties to decide. Whatever people think of the convention, I feel well able to continue to represent my constituency by correspondence and meetings with Ministers and others on behalf of my constituents.