And I said to Gordon when I stepped down - and incidentally we had a very good relationship at that time and beyond - that I would not passcomment on anything that was happening and that would stop people misrepresenting us.
And so economic data that in better times would pass without comment, now suddenly people wonder, well, are we going to go back to this terrible crisis?
Deputy Presiding Officer David Melding said he couldn't possibly comment on the standard of debates but promised to pass on Mr Knowles' comments to colleagues.