|
Exhibit 1
Letter from Mr Royston Webb of Harrods
Legal Department to Mr A J Hastings, Clerk of the Privileges
Committee
As you are aware, a month has now elapsed
since Mr Al-Fayed gave evidence to the Privileges Committee of
the House of Commons.
At that meeting, the Chairman of the Committee
proposed that Mr Al-Fayed would be recalled for a second session
to cover matters not dealt with on 31 October. It must clearly
be in the interests of both the Committee and Mr Al-Fayed that
the second meeting takes place as soon as possible when matters
are still relatively fresh in the mind.. We would therefore respectfully
suggest that the next meeting be held before the Christmas recess.
It cannot be in the public interest to let the matter drift off
into 1996.
We assume that, in accordance with your previous
practice, you will be circulating this letter to Committee members.
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Royston Webb
Director
30 November 1995
Letter from the Clerk of the Privileges
Committee to Mr Royston Webb
Thank you for your letter of 30 November. I
will, of course circulate it to the Committee.
Nevertheless I am rather puzzled by its contents.
A decision on whether or not to recall Mr Al-Fayed can only be
taken by the whole Committee. No decision has yet been taken.
As for the Chairman, his words at the close
of the meeting on 1 November were:
"Thank you very much, Mr Al-Fayed and those
who have come with you. I think all I can do at this stage is
to repeat what I said at the beginning. At this moment we have
not decided whether to receive the paper you sought to put before
us at the beginning of the meeting. We will consider further,
but I cannot be sure yet when we shall be able to do that, whether
to receive it, and if so, how to conduct any further inquiries
we wish to make. I hope you understand why we do not feel able
to go beyond that tonight, but, as I say, we remain grateful
for your attendance tonight and that of your colleagues. Thank
you very much." I am sorry if any misunderstanding
has arisen.
A J Hastings
Clerk of the Committee
1
December 1995 Exhibit 2
Letter from Mr Mohamed Al-Fayed to
the Rt Hon Anthony Newton MP, Chairman, Privileges Committee
It is now four weeks since your Committee
invited me to explain some of my concerns about activities undertaken
by certain members of the House of Commons. I was mindful of the
many instances during the meeting which I attended when you indicated
that the Committee will consider further concerns I raised in
the paper which I submitted to the Committee and the concerns
which I raised during the course of the meeting.
On re-reading the transcript of the meeting,
I am struck by the number of times you reiterated that the Committee
wished to consider further the material which I had submitted
and that those considerations will entail you wishing me to return
to give further evidence. I refer particularly to pages 5, 15,
21 and 36 of the transcript. I would appreciate hearing from
you on the Committee's conclusions concerning my paper and the
other matters to which I referred. I would also be glad to hear
from you as to when the Committee intends to investigate further
the matters which I have raised.
I would point out at this stage that I was
most surprised at the question from Mr Williams asking me why
the letter which my solicitors sent to the House of Commons Committee
on Members' Interests concerning Mr Neil Hamilton was not copied
to your Committee. I believed that the Members' Interests Committee
was going to investigate fully Mr Hamilton's conduct and take
appropriate steps. It has not done so. There was a suggestion
implicit in the question from Mr Williams that if that letter
had been copied to your Committee, appropriate action would have
been taken in relation to Mr Hamilton's conduct.
I have now placed that letter and substantial
further information in front of your Committee. I recognise that
there are many commitments on yourself and your colleagues. Nevertheless,
I am comforted by your personal assurances at the hearing that
none of these serious matters will be swept under the carpet,
but indeed will be fully investigated.
Please be assured that I derive comfort from
that personal assurance. I am well aware that you are a man of
integrity with a sense of public duty second to none. I would
welcome a provisional timetable as to when the matters I have
raised with you are to be considered and ultimately determined.
I hope that you will not consider it unreasonable of me to ask
you to indicate the timescale in which it is proposed to operate
since clearly the matters which I have raised are of great public
importance. I shall leave it to you to make this letter available
to your fellow Members of the Committee.
M Al-Fayed
Chairman
4 December 1995
Exhibit
3
Letter from Mr Ian Greer to A J Hastings
Esq, Clerk of the Privileges Committee
The Committee requested that I provide a
note of dates on which payments were made by IGA to individual
Members of Parliament.
As you will recall, it was agreed that Members
should be identified by a prefix and no amounts specified.
The note covers the period between my company's
inception in January 1981 and my first appearance before the
Select Committee in 1988. As stated in my recent evidence before
the Committee, there were five payments and these are as follows:
| Member | Year |
| A | 1985 |
| A | 1986 |
| B | 1986 |
| B | 1988 |
| C | 1988 |
| D | 1990 |
For the sake of completeness,
I should mention that one other payment was made to Member A between
my first and second appearance in 1990.
9 May 1990
Exhibit
10
Letter from Mr Ian Greer to Mr Mohamed
Al-Fayed, 60 Park Lane, London W1Y 3TG.
I was delighted to meet you once again on
Monday evening and look forward greatly to working with you and
your Brother.
I have now seen Michael Palmer and taken
a briefing from him. I have spoken to Neil Hamilton MP, Vice-Chairman
of the Conservative Party's Trade and Industry Committee, who
has agreed to table a question, which is being drafted by Michael
and myself, to Leon Brittan. The House of Commons rises today
until Tuesday. The question will be published in the Order Paper
next Thursday. I have also spoken to John MacArthur of Kleinwort
Benson and Gordon Reece and expect to have met them both by the
end of the week.
There is obviously a great deal to be done
on the Government and Parliamentary front to ensure that we put
maximum pressure on Leon Brittan to take quick and decisive action.
Yesterday's article in The Times was
without doubt most useful. We now have to ensure that there is
good back bench pressure on Ministers on this issue.
As you know from our brief conversation, I am
anxious to ensure that the major investments made by you in Britain
are fully appreciated and that we quickly achieve a greater understanding
of the commitment your Family has made to the United Kingdom.
I would, therefore, like to embark on a carefully prepared programme
of meetings with Ministers and senior back benchers. I fully
accept, however, the immediate problem of The Observer
and Rowland must take priority.
My Secretary has been in touch with your office
with telephone numbers where I can be contacted at any time.
I look forward to our meeting next week, when
hopefully we will be able to agree the financial basis on which
we work.
Ian B Greer
30 October 1985 Exhibit 11
Letter from Mr Ian Greer to Al-Fayed
Investment Trust, House of Fraser Group, 60 Park Lane, London
W1Y 3TG.
I am writing to confirm the agreement entered
into between us when we met together on 28 October, that my Company
should act as Political Advisers to you for a period of one year
with effect from 1 November 1985, at a fee of £25,000 plus
VAT at the prescribed rate.
We look forward very much to working with
you.
Ian B Greer
7 November 1985
Exhibit 12
Letter from Mr Ian Greer to Mr Al-Fayed
May I take this opportunity of wishing you
a very happy, prosperous and successful New Year.
I would like to have an half hour chat with
you as soon as it is convenient to assess where we are, and what
plans we should be making for you to establish good working relationships
with key Members of Parliament.
Perhaps you could ask your Secretary to give
me a call so that we can arrange a convenient time to meet.
Ian B Greer
9 January 1986
Exhibit 13
Letter from Mr Ian Greer to Mr Mohamed
Al-Fayed
I am enclosing a copy of two Questions which
are being tabled today by Teddy Taylor, the Conservative Member
of Parliament for Southend. It would appear that they are Lonrho
prompted.
I know Teddy Taylor well, and will talk to
him as soon as I can get hold of him, albeit the House goes into
recess today and does not come back until 12 January 1987, the
day on which the Questions are due for written answer. I will
be in contact.
Ian B Greer
19 December 1986
1998 NOTICES OF QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS: 18 DECEMBER
1986 NO. 26
117 W Mr Teddy Taylor (Southend East): To ask
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will publish
in the Official Report the recent correspondence he has had with
the Lonrho Company about the circumstances in which the Al-Fayed
family was given permission to purchase the House of Fraser group;
and if he will make a statement.
118 W Mr Teddy Taylor (Southend East): To ask
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will refer
again to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the purchase of
the House of Fraser Company by the Al-Fayed family in the light
of the new information which has been presented to him by Lonrho
since the date of approval; and if he will make a statement.
Exhibit 14
951 Conduct of the Honourable Member
for Bury St. Edmunds
Mr Brian Sedgemore
Mr Dennis Skinner
Mr D N Campbell-Savours *3
That this House deplores the attempt
of the honourable Member for Bury St Edmunds to censor and silence
the Observer in reporting the take-over of the House of Fraser,
a British company with 30,000 shareholders, by a Liechtenstein
company owned by the Al-Fayeds called AIT which was originally
called Precis (317) and was a shelf company formed by Herbert
Smith & Co. with two nil paid shares of £1 each; notes
the threatening letter written by the honourable Member for Bury
St Edmunds to Donald Trelford, the editor of The Observer,
dated 3 June 1986 in defence of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Kailash Nath
Agarwal and Sari Chandra Swamji Maharaj which says "I have
it in mind to draw to the attention of the House the charges made
by these gentlemen that The Observer has borne false witness
against them, and that, accordingly the allegations you also make
against the Prime Minister, Mr Norman Tebbit and Mr Mark Thatcher
are palpably untrue"; and informs the honourable Member
that Mohamed Al-Fayed and his prestigious merchant bankers Kleinwort
Benson misled the Office of Fair Trading and the Government about
the family background, wealth and value of the assets of the Al-Fayeds
in a letter from Mr MacArthur of Kleinworts to Mr Agar of the
OFT dated 6 December 1984 marked "Strictly Private and Confidential"
and in the Offer Document dated 4 March 1985.
954 Conduct of the Honourable Member for Beaconsfield
Mr Brian Sedgemore
Mr Dennis Skinner
Mr D N Campbell-Savours
*3
That this House deplores the attempt of the honourable
Member for Beaconsfield to censor and silence The Observer in
reporting the take-over of Harrods and 110 prestigious stores
formerly owned by the House of Fraser, now owned by AIT, a Liechtenstein
company; advises the honourable Member not to be taken in by a
public relations exercise being mounted by Mr Mohamed Al-Fayed,
whose anti-semitic views have been authenticated on tape recordings;
and calls on the honourable Member to join in a boycott of Harrods.
Letter from Mr Tiny Rowland of Lonrho
HOUSE OF FRASER
In the Early Day Motions published on Monday
16 June 1986, numbers 951 and 954 referred to the House of Fraser
Company.
For ease of reference we now quote the text
of the question and motion numbered 951:
"That this House deplores the attempt of
the honourable Member for Bury St Edmunds to censor and silence
The Observer in reporting the take over of the House of
Fraser, a British company with 30,000 shareholders, by a Liechtenstein
company owned by the Al-Fayeds called AIT which was originally
called Precis (317) and was a shelf company formed by Herbert
Smith and Co with two nil paid shares of £1 each; notes
the threatening letter written by the honourable Member for Bury
St Edmunds to Donald Trelford, the editor of The Observer,
dated 3 June 1986 in defence of Mohamed Al-Fayed, Kailash Nath
Agarwal and Sari Chandra Swamji Maharaj which says `I have it
in mind to draw to the attention of the House the charges made
by these gentlemen that The Observer has borne false witness
against them, and that, accordingly the allegations you also
make against the Prime Minister, Mr Norman Tebbit and Mr Mark
Thatcher are palpably untrue'; and informs the honourable Member
that Mohamed Al-Fayed and his prestigious merchant bankers Kleinwort
Benson misled the Office of Fair Trading and the Government about
the family background, wealth and value of the assets of the Al-Fayeds
in a letter from Mr MacArthur of Kleinworts to Mr Agar of the
OFT dated 6 December 1984 marked `Strictly Private and Confidential'
and in the Offer Document dated 4 March 1985."
To assist
honourable Members to understand how grave an issue was being
debated, we have pleasure in enclosing a copy of The Observer's
article dated 15 June 1986 concerning the background of the Egyptian
Fayed family, who are now the owners of Harrods.
Lonrho is convinced that a confidence trick
has been practised on a large number of people and bodies including
the previous two Secretaries of State for Trade and Industry.
Lonrho is applying to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
for a reference to the Monopolies Commission concerning this disgraceful
affair. One unhappy result that may follow from any further failure
of the Secretary of State to intervene, is a dismemberment or
collapse of the House of Fraser since it is apparent that the
company is not generating sufficient funds to service its present
borrowings, which now includes £430 million of loans used
to refinance the purchase. The stark contrast between the
article enclosed, and statements by the Sunday Telegraph
who described the Fayeds as "one of Egypt's distinguished
families"; by the Financial Times who said the Fayeds
were "fourth generation Egyptian money"; and again
by the Daily Mail who described the Fayeds as "cotton
millionaires for one hundred years" - is remarkable.
In the event of the Secretary of State deciding
not to investigate the matter further, the way will be open for
Lonrho to press through the Civil Courts for the ultimate truth.
R W Rowland
17 June 1986
Exhibit 15
Facsimile from Ian Greer to Mohamed
Al-Fayed
1. Copy of amendment to EDM No. 577. We
expect to be tabled later on tonight for publication in tomorrow's
Order Paper.
2. Copy of questions to be tabled tonight.
Ian Greer
19 February 1987
Exhibit 16
EDM 577
AS AN AMENDMENT TO CLARE SHORT'S PROPOSED
MOTION (CONDEMNATION OF HARROD'S TREATMENT OF STAFF)
Line 1,
after "House", add "applauds the agreement reached
on 19 February 1987 between Harrods Limited and the staff; condemns
party political moves by certain Honourable Members to undermine
negotiating procedures; abhors the personal attacks made under
parliamentary privilege on the owners of Harrods Limited; congratulates
the Government on its decision to allow the purchase of Harrods
by AIT (UK) plc especially in view of the enormous investment
by the owners; congratulates the management and staff on the continued
success of a Great British Institution; and draws attention to
the statement made by the Convenor of the Eastern Harrods Branch
of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers that `this
branch of the Union wishes to disassociate itself completely
from the amendment to the Early Day Motion' tabled by the Honourable
Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch `and renounces all sentiments
expressed therein'."
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
For
answer on Monday 23 February
Neil Hamilton, MP, Tatton:
To ask Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when his Department
expects to be able to reply to letters from M J Palmer dated
30 January 1987 and 6 February 1987.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
For answer on Monday 23 January
Neil Hamilton, MP, Tatton:
To ask Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects
to be in a position to reply to a letter addressed to him dated
2 February 1987 from Mohamed Al-Fayed.
724 Harrods Agreement with Staff
Mr Neil Hamilton
Mr Albert McQuarrie
Mr Nicholas Winterton
* 3
That this House
applauds the agreement reached on 19 February 1987 between Harrods
Ltd. and the staff; condemns party political moves by certain
honourable Members to undermine negotiating procedures; abhors
the personal attacks made under parliamentary privilege on the
owners of Harrods Limited; congratulates the Government on its
decision to allow the purchase of Harrods by AIT (UK) plc especially
in view of the enormous investment by the owners; congratulates
the management and staff on the continued success of a great
British institution and notes that the proposed motion tabled
by the honourable Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, condemning
Harrods' treatment of their staff has now been withdrawn following
the statement made by the convenor of the eastern Harrods branch
of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers that this
branch of the union wishes to disassociate itself completely
from the amendment to that Motion tabled by the honourable Member
for Hackney South and Shoreditch and renounces all sentiments
expressed therein.
13 March 1987
Exhibit
17
Letter from Mr Neil Hamilton MP to
Mr Mohamed Al-Fayed
Enclosed is a copy of my letter to the Chairman
of the Stock Exchange,[7]
all of which speaks for itself.
I have now been elected Secretary of the
Conservative Finance Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Trade
and Industry Committee, all of which gives me a better position
from which you act on your behalf. Previously, as a PPS, it was
less easy.
I will be writing shortly to Francis Maude,
the new Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry.
23 July 1987
Exhibit 18
Facsimile from Mr Ian Greer to Mohamed
Al-Fayed
Have seen Neil and others. Expect Motion
to go down tonight. Am drafting series of questions to be put
to Trade and Industry next week and a further very strong anti-Rowland
motion before Parliament rises for the summer. Will be in
touch tomorrow. We have got them on the move!! 12 July 1988
Exhibit 19
NO. 187 NOTICES OF MOTIONS: 14 JULY 1988 8223
1358 Mr Tiny Rowland
Mr Neil Hamilton
* 1
That this House condemns the continuing barrage of libellous
and vicious propaganda being sent by Tiny Rowland, allegedly
on behalf of Lonrho plc and at the expense of its shareholders,
to honourable Members; further demands that he refrains from
pursuing his bitter personal vendetta against the House of Fraser
in this House; calls upon Mr Rowland to act in a manner befitting
that of a chairman of an international public company; and requests
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to call upon his
inspectors to complete their inquiry into the House of Fraser
without further delay.
As Amendments to Mr Neil Hamilton's proposed
Motion (Mr Tiny Rowland):
Mr Frank Cook
* 1
Line 1,
leave out from "House" to end and add ", whilst
not necessarily supporting the views of Mr Tiny Rowland about
the House of Fraser, upholds his right to express them and to
disseminate them to honourable and Right honourable Members,
records surprise that any honourable Member, having been elected
to membership of the House in order to hear, heed and represent
those in the electorate who seek an effective voice in the prime
national political forum, should feel the need, in a country
famous for its free speech, to frustrate the long-established
and time-honoured parliamentary processes by gagging elements
of the electorate; and questions what genuine aims could possible
motivate an honourable Member with such contrary purpose.".
Mr Jeremy Corbyn
Mr Eric S Heffer
Mr Tony Benn
Mr Dennis Skinner
Mr Harry Barnes Mr Bob Clay
* 7
Mr Ron Brown
Line 1, leave out
from "condemns" to end and add "notes the continuing
barrage of the most extraordinary vitriolic communications between
Tiny Rowland and the House of Fraser; is grateful for the education
into the vicious methods of big business that socialists have
received from this; and believes that this vituperative waste
of resources is endemic in a capitalist system.".
Exhibit 20
Facsimile from Mr Ian Greer to Mohamed
Al-Fayed
As you know, Michael Grylls wrote to Lord
Young yesterday, copy of letter attached.[8]
I have spoken to Neil Hamilton, he is writing over the weekend
- the letter will be hand delivered to Lord Young on Monday.
We have agreed the text of the letter and it is strong. Neil Hamilton
available for delegation to Lord Young next Wednesday/Thursday.
Have so far failed to contact Tim Smith and
Peter Hordern, will continue to try and do so over the weekend.
My home telephone number is * * * .
29 July 1988
7 Not printed. Back
8
Not printed. Back
| 
