Leaky ship sails off

Media speculation over the contents of the Dearing report appears to have reduced members of Sir Ron's committee to a state of paranoia. Tales of what Sir Ron will recommend have been so accurate (not least in these pages) that the committee fears ministers are arranging leaks.

Some members are apparently so worried about being hounded for information that they have succumbed to a sudden urge for foreign travel.

No doubt they got the idea from their press officer, Tony Millns, who has disappeared to a Greek island for two weeks.