Annex 74
Letter to Mr John Maxton MP from the Chairman
of the Committee on Standards and Privileges
At the meeting this morning of the Committee on Standards
and Privileges the Commissioner reported to us that you are unwilling
to meet her to discuss certain questions which she has put to
you. Without your answers the Commissioner is at a disadvantage
in preparing her report to us on the complaint against you which
she is investigating.
We were sorry to learn this. I would have thought
it was in everyone`s interests, including yours, to have this
matter resolved and not to prolong unnecessarily an experience
which must be unpleasant for any Member.
Our concern is that, without your co-operation, evidence
which you might wish to dispute will go unchallenged and the Commissioner
will have to finalise her report with incomplete information.
We hope, therefore, that on reflection you will agree to meet
the Commissioner to reply in detail to her questions.
If, however, you decide not to co-operate further,
the Commissioner will have no alternative but to report to us
on the basis of the evidence she has already collected. That may
not be in your best interests.
I would be grateful if you could respond to the Commissioner
not later than Monday 19 June so that she can report the outcome
to us at our meeting on Tuesday 20 June.
13 June 2000
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