Speaker's staff

Once elected, the Speaker appoints a small team of personal staff consisting of:

• A Speaker's chaplain who reads the prayers at the start of every Commons sitting;
• A Speaker's counsel who advises the Speaker on legal matters, assists the Chairman of Ways & Means on private bills and advises the Scrutiny Committee on statutory instruments;
• A Speaker's secretary who runs the Speaker's Office;
• And two trainbearers, one of whom always accompanies the Speaker on ceremonial occasions, for example during the daily Speaker's procession.