Annex I
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards
from Mr Robert Syms MP
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the complaint
you have received about my contribution to the Budget Debate on
the 22nd March 2000. Having re-read my contribution I am happy
with my speech except for the section when I mentioned the Construction
Industry Scheme, when I should have drawn Members attention to
my interests in the Register.
On this occasion I was called to speak at 9.22 pm
as the last back bench speaker only had a few minutes to compress
a long speech before the Front bench wind up. So under the pressure
of time constraints I did not use my written speech and spoke
without notes resulting in my omitting to mention my interest,
for which I apologise.
When the House next debated the construction industry
in Westminster Hall on Thursday 18th May 2000 you will see from
the record that I did declare my interest at the beginning of
my contribution (column 121 WH) and I hope you will accept that
my failure to declare during the earlier debate was a genuine
error.
26 March 2001
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