Annex 56
Letter to Mr Geoffrey Bindman, Bindman
& Partners, Solicitors, from the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards
Thank you for your letter of 7 December 2000
from which I understand that Mr Vaz takes the view that there
are no questions of relevance to my enquiry which he has not fully
answered.
In the light of this I shall proceed to draw
up my draft memorandum and I will, as I have said previously,
send it to Mr Vaz to give him the opportunity to suggest corrections
of fact and, if he wishes, provide further comment. I am still
waiting for replies to some letters to witnesses and if necessary
will put them to Mr Vaz when they reach me.
I note from your letter that Mr Vaz is happy
to answer any further questions which the Committee wishes him
to answer. It would be helpful if Mr Vaz could take the opportunity
to provide me with any further details, which, having read my
memorandum, he thinks would enable me to provide a full and accurate
account to the Standards and Privileges Committee.
My aim is to send Mr Vaz the draft memorandum
before the Christmas recess and to offer him two weeks in which
to reply. May I once again assure Mr Vaz that I shall consider,
most carefully, any corrections, additions or further comment
he decides to make at that point.
Once I have received Mr Vaz's reply I shall
correct and complete my memorandum and come to my conclusions.
I anticipate providing my memorandum to the Standards and Privileges
Committee early in the New Year.
Finally, may I underline my continuing invitation
to Mr Vaz to see me or speak to me on the telephone in order to
provide me with additional information or discuss any of these
matters.
Perhaps you would let my office know where we
should address the memorandum, or whether Mr Vaz would prefer
his staff to collect it.
11 December 2000
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