Annex 40
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from Mr John Maxton MP
Thank you for your further letter. I do not believe
that it adequately answers the points I raised with you. In particular
it fails to respond to my request for your reason for believing
that Mr Nelson gave you sufficient evidence to justify you beginning
the very extensive inquiry you are undertaking.
However I do not wish to delay further this matter
which has caused me considerable distress. I am therefore answering
the limited point made by Dean Nelson in his letter against me.
I confirm that I employed Chris Winslow as a part
time research assistant from May 1998-June 1999. His maximum hours
of work were 20 hours a week although I was more concerned that
he carried out efficiently the tasks given to him rather than
sticking strictly to a certain number of hours. He worked from
his home and I supplied him with a computer with Internet access
and printer.
Mr Winslow also worked for the Labour Party on a
part time basis during this period. His duties for me are described
in the enclosed contract. I enclose a statement from Mr Winslow
that I have received by e-mail. When I received the signed original
I will forward it to you. As he makes clear there were occasions
when Mr Winslow did work for me in the Labour Party offices. Clearly
this was convenient for him, as he did not have to return to his
home when one part of his work ended and another began.
I refute the allegation that Mr Winslow was working
full time for the Labour Party and I was paying him to do so and
I believe the enclosed evidence makes that clear. My employment
of Ms Hilliard is not relevant to your investigation since it
post-dates the period of Mr Nelson`s allegations.
If Mr Nelson has produced further evidence than I
would wish to see it as soon as you receive it although I cannot
see how anything he says can alter the statement I have laid before
you.
2 March 2000
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