my i also congratulate my friend the honorable member for louth and horncastle four becoming the father of the house. he first worked with a conservative prime minister in 1955 when he was personal assistant to anthony eden. famous for his put doms, he once said to me on one of our many trips to the northern lobby, you call yourself a modernizer but i think that is rubbish. as far i can see, you're just like harold and rab. his knowledge and experience of the house are unmatched and he is dearly valued. perhaps not everyone who is here today, those who have not sat through the past two parliaments -- will understand why i say that he is worth his weight in gold. mr. speaker-elect, i know that we were all shocked to learn what happened on friday to the right honorable member for east ham. our thoughts should be with him and we wish him a swift return to help into his place in this house. i would like to use this opportunity also to welcome all the newly elected members of parliament on both sides of the house. this is a new era for our politics and something of a new start, a chance for