Select Committee on Standards and Privileges First Report


APPENDIX 59

Letter from Mr Michael Brown, MP to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

  I enclose a Statement which I have made today relating to an introduction fee I received from Ian Greer Associates in 1987-88 for introducing a client, US Tobacco.

  I realise that, in retrospect, this payment should have been declared in the Register of Members' Interests, and I wish to apologise to you unreservedly for being mistaken in my belief at the time that this was not necessary.

  This apparent belief was referred to in the Third Report of the Select Committee on Members' Interests (HC561, published 25 July 1990) paragraph 3. The Committee noted that "it may not be readily apparent from the description of each category contained in the introduction to the Annual Register that commission payments of a minor or casual kind should be registered or where they should be registered". The Committee then undertook a review of the Register.

  In the light of recent events, however, surrounding the question of Ian Greer Associates and its relationship with Members of Parliament, I felt it right to advise you that this was why I failed to make this declaration at the time.

  I regret the embarrassment which I have caused to the Register of Members' Interests for this error of judgment on my part and wish to re-assure you and the Committee that I have checked all other declarations since I entered the House in 1979 regarding visits, directorships and consultancies and am satisfied that this is the only omission in my declaration in the Register.

Michael Brown

2 October 1996

Statement by Mr Michael Brown, MP

  I confirm that while making representations to the Government against the closure of the US Tobacco factory in Scotland after the Government had made available regional financial assistance, I decided that US Tobacco required professional public affairs advice which I could not give.

  I gave US Tobacco the names of several Public Affairs companies. As a result, Ian Greer Associates were successful in gaining US Tobacco as a client. Subsequently, I received an introductory commission.

  Given the lack of clarity of the Parliamentary rules as they then existed, it appeared to me that I did not have to declare this in the Register of Members' Interests. In the light of recent events, I feel that Sir Gordon Downey, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, should be aware of these facts.

2 October 1996


 
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