LAST month, Mike Foster suffered a torrid time on the Today programme as he sought to defend Margaret Hodge's record as Children's Minister.

He wanted to talk about his boss's achievements with Sure Start.

The presenter wanted to know - for seven minutes - what he thought of Mrs Hodge branding child abuse victim Demetrious Panton "extremely disturbed".

This week, Mrs Hodge got a taste of the same medicine - enduring a battering at the hands of the Commons education and skills select committee.

Committee member Andrew Turner, Tory MP for the Isle of Wight, asked Ms Hodge about a broadcast interview in which she said she had had thousands of letters welcoming her appointment as Children's Minister.

He asked her to specify exactly how many letters.

Ms Hodge said: "You will have to allow me a little bit of licence ... But I think it was one of the most welcomed appointments in Government, the creation of the post, and my appointment."

Mr Turner then asked the Minister why she described Mr Panton as "extremely disturbed".

She replied: "I have apologised for those words that I have used. I have settled on that in court, in public and in a private apology to him. I am now getting on with the job. And I hope that you will hold me to account on my delivery of the job."

At one point, committee chairman Barry Sheerman, the Labour MP for Huddersfield, stressed to Mr Turner: "This is not a confirmation hearing."

The damage was already done.