Select Committee on Standards and Privileges Second Report


Annex 10

Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from the Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP

I understand that a meeting between us has been arranged formally by our respective offices for Wednesday 19 April 2000. I have also now been informed by my office, that your office has referred to this as "the official meeting". While I am not sure what this means, I infer that you will wish to put to me the content of your investigations to date.

To date I have received no elucidation of the complaint beyond the letter from Mr Dean Nelson. If our meeting is to take place on a fruitful basis, it is essential as a matter of fairness, that I be informed in advance and in good time (i) what has been said against me and by whom; (ii) what documentary or other evidence has been provided; (iii) what is the meaning of the term "the official meeting" and (iv) what arrangements are proposed for the attendance of representation. I understand that transcripts of various witnesses have been produced. May I see those?

As discussion is presumably to proceed beyond the full statement which I gave to you in writing on 14 February, I trust that you will accept that I am entitled to be made aware of the foregoing. If I am not provided with this information timeously, you will understand that I am unlikely to be able to assist you next Wednesday.

13 April 2000


 
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