Annex 116A
File note by the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards
TELEPHONE CALL
FROM COUNCILLOR
MARY DRAKECOTT
I explained that I was carrying out an inquiry
and I was just checking whether correct Register entries had been
made by Mr Vaz. I explained that I had been given her name by
Mr and Mrs Stuttard. I asked her whether she was aware of any
donations or contributions being made to Mr Vaz in his capacity
as a Member of Parliament. She said she was not aware of any such
contributions being asked for directly by Mr Vaz. However, the
General Committee of Leicester East constituency was constantly
fund raising and there was an occasion for an election campaign
when all Councillors were asked to make a contribution of a percentage
of their Councillor's allowance, to assist the election effort.
She could not recall the date of the election. She said the contributions
were asked for by John Thomas, the then Secretary of the General
Committee of the constituency. Councillor Drakecott did not make
any contribution at the time because she was unemployed and her
husband was in low paid work. She knew there were a handful of
Councillors who had made this contribution. I asked her if she
knew who they were and she said Councillor Kavia, Councillor V
Patel and Councillor Kamal had all made contributions. I asked
her if she was aware of any other payments and she said her ward
tended to keep itself to itself, although she did know of the
inquiry and she hoped that this would get to the bottom of it
and settle it once and for all. I said that I agreed with her
and that it would be good to complete the work shortly. She agreed
that if she thought of any other information for me she would
let me have it.
12 July 2000
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