Smith to defend the number 42

Jacqui Smith is appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee today, and it looks like she has two über-fun topics to chat about:

• So, why 42? It's something Westmonster and many others have wondered, not least the copyright holders of The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy, as well as the chief of MI5.
  
• Failure to backdate the pay rise for 140,000 police officers. It's even driven them to a ballot!

Westmonster can only wish the Home Secretary the best of luck in answering these, and any other of life's mysteries she's asked to confront whilst in the dock.