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Letter from Rt Hon Michael Heseltine MP
to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Thank you for your letter of 20 February. I
will try to be as helpful as I can.
The conversation between myself and Mr Hamilton
recorded in Sir Robin Butler's note of 21 October was a private
one. My private office did not hear it, and was therefore unable
to keep any record. I reported it direct to Sir Robin, with whom
I had raised the question originally.
As Sir Robin's note accurately reflects, my
concern was to ascertain whether Mr Hamilton had had any financial
relationship with Mr Greer which might have put him under an obligation
to him. I did not have to consider at the time what might or
might not constitute a financial relationship because the reply
I received was "no". I did not ask any further questions,
because the answer was unqualified.
While I can fully understand your wish to establish
now the precise nature of my conversation with Mr Hamilton, it
is over two years since the event took place and I am afraid that
I simply cannot recall the exact question I put to Mr Hamilton.
Nor can I try to interpret now what Mr Hamilton's
thoughts may have been during our conversation. That is something
which you must establish with Mr Hamilton.
Michael Heseltine
27 February 1997
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