Annex 29A
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from the Rt Hon Dr John Reid MP
I refer to your letter of the 1st August enclosing
Mr Rowley`s e-mail dated as being sent to your office on 4th July
2000. Mr Rowley offers to make the tape available. I request that
I be given the opportunity of hearing and examining the original
tape. I trust this request is acceptable.
As to the documents provided these appear to bear
out my expressed view that I did not threaten Mr Rowley. I take
it that there are no other materials in the possession of your
office. May I take it that you are now in a position to reject
the allegation? If that is not the case would you please explain
what is the basis of the allegation and what are the details of
the alleged threat? I requested full details in my answer 27 in
my submission dated 6 July 2000.
It does not appear to me that anything I am noted
as saying conflicts significantly with my statements and submission.
In particular, you will note that the terms of the conversation
fit with my expressed views in answer 29. You made the point that
you would only supply me with material that was in conflict with
my stated position. Please confirm that the documents do not conflict
significantly with my position. If however you consider that there
is a significant conflict would you please identify where that
is to be found?
You will recollect that you first requested that
I not speak to participants in the investigation on 19th May 2000.
I assume Mr Rowley`s documents relate to a conversation in March
2000, i.e. prior to your letter of 19th May 2000. You will note
certain features of Mr Rowley`s notes. Firstly, he instigated
the contact. Most significantly, having instigated the contact
Mr Rowley surreptitiously tape-recorded the conversation. No doubt
you will have enquired as to who suggested he do this and what
his purpose was in so doing.
I must say I am surprised Mr Rowley set up tape-recording
equipment and then contacted me. If you have received an answer
as to why he did this it would be helpful for me to know what
was his motivation. I am presently reconsidering my view of Mr
Rowley`s attitude to me.
Please note that I shall be overseas on holiday from
6th August 2000.
5 August 2000
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