MPs have welcomed the appointment of Philip Mawer as the new parliamentary commissioner for standards.

In a debate on the appointment on Wednesday afternoon, MPs heard him praised as someone of "immense ability".

The House of Commons Commission recommended Mawer's appointment following the decision of Elizabeth Filkin not to re-apply for the position

Filkin was angered by a reduction in hours for the post, and said her independence could no longer be guaranteed.

She also said MPs and ministers had been engaged in a "whispering campaign" to undermine her investigations of sleaze allegations.

On behalf of the Commission, the Labour MP Stuart Bell praised the work Filkin had undertaken on behalf of the House.

He added: "It has been no secret that the last few weeks have not been happy ones on either side."

Bell praised the new watchdog as "a person of strong moral values" and "immense ability". "Mr Mawer will be as tough as it takes," he promised.

And in an apparent side-swipe at Filkin, who has been accused of leaking news of her investigations to the media by some MPs, Bell said Mawer would be "a man of understanding and trust".

"Mr Mawer is someone I would readily consult in the knowledge that our conversations would remain private," he said.

Mawer is expected to take up the post from the beginning of March, initially on a two-day a week contract, though Bell said the number of days could be increased if it was found to be necessary.

With MPs concerned over the resourcing of the commissioner's office, Bell also said that a review of the support needed was being carried out.

Conservative MP Sir George Young, who chairs the standards and privileges committee to which Mawer will report the results of his investigations, also welcomed the appointment.