Committees are expected to seek potential Specialist Advisers from as wide a range of sources as possible and guidance states that committees should, wherever possible, be offered a choice of candidates. They are advised to use academic institutions, the Library, the National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology whenever appropriate to assist them in their search for Advisers on specific or generic topics. Committees have sometimes advertised for Specialist Advisers by issuing a press notice, and some have used their webpages to offer something like a standing invitation for expressions of interest. No central record of the number of advertised Specialist Adviser vacancies is kept. Information is being gleaned from individual committee records and the Clerk of Committees will write to the hon. Member when that is completed. A record of all Specialist Advisers appointed by a committee can be found in the relevant section of the Sessional Return for each of the years in question.<\/p>