Annex 186
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from Annmarie Whyte
[NOTE: See also Annex 144,
Appendix B—repeated]
Thank you for your letter dated 19th May. Firstly
I would like to apologise for the delay in responding to your
letter.
I was responsible for drawing up the attached budget
projections with the assistance of the unit heads, Scottish General
Secretary and Director of Finance. I should say that, as far as
I am aware, John Reid or John Maxton did not have any input to
the budget projections and that it would have been unlikely that
they would have seen these documents. Document one was simply
one budgeting exercise. I am sure that there were others on different
bases.
Document 1—dated 28/5/98
(i) a Chris Winslow
did not receive £1100 per month throughout the period. This
figure was put in at an early stage when it was hoped that SLP
might take him on for a 33¾ hours working week. As it turned
out the SLP did not do so. In the nature of a projection it was
one possible way forward at the time it was produced.
b £13200 was not a salary figure but rather
an estimate of expenditure of £12,000 & £1200 estimated
employer`s contributions.
c same as (i)a.
d same as (i)b divided by 12 months.
e same as (i)b.
f Briefing notes 7 & 8 refers to SLP projected
expenditure. The notes identified projected SLP expenditure on
salary and employers contributions for Chris and Kevin (see answer
b) had they been taken on for a 33¾ hour week. The reference
to income was noting that Chris and Kevin had other sources of
income from their MP employer. As the projection was in respect
of expenditure I kept the two of them in the figures at £13200
each, as if the SLP was not able to employ them there was none
the less a requirement for the equivalent of two persons doing
the work. As it turned out Chris and Kevin were not able to join
in summer 1998 on a full working basis. The Scottish Labour Party
did not receive any payments from John Maxton or John Reid, nor
did it regard itself as being subsidised by either MP.
Document 2—I do not know exactly when it
was produced but given the increase to Kevin`s salary it must
have been after he was put onto a 33¾ hour week with SLP
(end of October)
(ii) a I assume that
the document was drawn up before Chris had his salary increased
or it omitted to take account of the increase, in error.
b £500 per month salary plus £50 employers
contribution.
c 13 payments of £550 June to June inclusive.
d £330 salary plus £33 employers contributions.
e £16314 was not estimated salary, but of
SLP estimated expenditure on Kevin i.e. New salary £18000
& 10% employers contributions divided by 12 months = £1650
per month October to June. Old salary June to September.
Document 3—8/1/99
(iii) a This is not
salary but estimated expenditure on old expenditure level June
to October plus new expenditure level November to June.
b This is not salary but estimated expenditure
on old expenditure level June to September plus new expenditure
level October to June.
Enclosed is a copy of the letter relating to the
mortgage application from Northern Rock on behalf of Kevin Reid.
It shows Kevin Reid`s annual salary level as at the date of the
letter. The General Secretary Alex Rowley would have approved
this letter and the information contained within the letter would
have been obtained from our Head Office in London.
I also enclose a copy of our Annual Report, which
contains our audited accounts for 1998 & 1999.
I hope that the above information assists you with
your enquiry.
21 June 2000
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