A knight to remember

Sir David Steel, presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, runs a tight ship, preventing MSPs over-running during debates.

He was keeping an eye on the clock recently as MSPs queued to express support for a bill reinstating St Andrews University's right to award postgraduate medical degrees.

The move was first mooted by Michael Steel, St Andrews' professor of medical sciences and Sir David's brother. MSP Keith Raffan inadvertently referred to "Sir Michael Steel" then corrected himself: "I meant to say Professor Michael Steel. I am sure that it is just a matter of time before he follows his brother. That might get me an extra minute."