Annex 210
Letter to the Rt Hon Donald Dewar MP MSP
from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
You may be aware that I am currently investigating
allegations that for some period some staff who were employed
on Westminster allowances by Dr Reid and Mr Maxton were deployed
on the Labour Party`s campaign for the Scottish Parliament.
I understand that during the campaign one of the
researchers was anxious that these arrangements might come to
the attention of the media and informed several colleagues and
Mr John Rafferty. I understand that Mr Rafferty reported this
in detail to you.
I would be grateful for any information that you
can give me to help me with this inquiry in particular perhaps
you would answer the following questions;
1. Did Mr Rafferty pass on to you at any time
his concerns that some researchers paid in part from Westminster
salaries were being used full-time on the Labour Party campaign
for the Scottish Parliament?
2. If so, please would you give me details of
the conversation, what he reported to you and what your instructions
to him were.
3. Did you follow up this conversation in any
way either with those employing these staff or with the staff
themselves?
4. Have you held discussions on this issue with
any other people at any time? If so, please would you give me
details of dates, those involved and what was discussed.
5. Please would you give me any other information
which might shed light on these allegations so that I may take
a view on them and report accurately to the Standards and Privileges
Committee.
May I thank you in advance for your help on this
matter.
20 April 2000
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