Annex 71
Letter to Mr John W Thomas from the Parliamentary
Commissioner for Standards
You kindly wrote to me on 25 May to answer questions
concerning matters which I am investigating.
I am hoping to conclude my report shortly and
report to the Standards and Privileges Committee and I find I
need to check one further matter with you. I am sorry I need to
bother you again.
I have been informed by a number of witnesses
that, as Secretary of Leicester East Constituency Party you appealed
to serving councillors to contribute a percentage of their allowances
to an election campaign. I am informed that the appeal and discussion
which followed was recorded in the General Committee's minutes.
1. Please would you let me know whether
you have ever made an appeal for any funds, for any purpose and
suggested that councillors set aside part of their allowance for
the purpose.
2. Would you send me copies of minutes which
record any such appeal with your verification as secretary that
they are a correct record.
3. Would you set out for me the circumstances
of the appeal for funds, the use to which funds raised in this
way were put, the dates concerned and how much you were able to
raise in this way. If you have a list of donors that would be
most helpful.
May I thank you in advance for your help. If
you would like to speak to me on the telephone again please do
not hesitate to ring me.
13 July 2000
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