Annex 16
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from Mr Keith Vaz MP
Thank you for your letter of 3 March 2000, which
I received today. Please do not apologise for asking for further
information I am happy to provide it.
The Ravi Shankar "event" was indeed
also a dinner. After the concert there was a dinner for the guests
(about 400 people). Hence his reference to a concert and a dinner.
As I said he was not present at the event.
The other event was at the Portman Hotel. You
have the details. I know of no "third" event which he
may have been involved in. I cannot be of assistance as to when
he paid his sponsorship fee. This is really a matter for him and
the ABN.
On the question of the charitable donation made
by Mr Zaiwalla, the dates are too wide ("1993 or 1994")
to be able to know which cause I suggested he support. As I have
said there are many causes which have and do need supporting.
However, can I repeat that neither I nor any
member of my office would be involved in collecting or processing
such donations.
On the letter from Paul Gosling, I have a rather
large pile of correspondence with Mr Gosling going back to 1985
which I will have to examine I also need to inspect the Register
for 1994 and look at the publications list for 1991. I shall do
this urgently and let you have my comments as soon as I have done
so.
Finally, can I mention the fact that Mr Hastings
and Mr Syal from the Sunday Telegraph have just visited
my constituency over the last few days. Two of my constituents
are under the impression that they are in some way part of your
office.
7 March 2000
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