Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly today, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The former Education Minister said last night that a number of his "political friends'' had asked his permission to put his name forward for the post.

"I gave it a lot of thought and said I would allow them to do so,'' Dr.

Terceira said.

If Dr. Terceira is nominated when Parliament reconvenes today, he would be pitted against United Bermuda Party backbencher Mrs. Grace Bell, who was the only MP who expressed interest in the post when the UBP caucus was canvassed a few weeks ago.

Dr. Terceira refused to comment on reports that he had contacted Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade about the possibility of the Progressive Labour Party supporting him.

He would only reiterate that some of his political friends had approached him, and noted the Deputy Speaker required a majority vote of the whole House of Assembly to be elected.

The Hon. Tim Smith was Deputy Speaker when the House was last in session but he was appointed Environment Minister in new Premier the Hon. David Saul's Cabinet in August.

Dr. Terceira, an outspoken opponent of Independence, was dropped from the Cabinet in the reshuffle.