APPENDIX 21
Letter from the Rt Hon Chris Smith MP
to the Chairman of the Committee
I have been following with interest the recent
proceedings of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and I noticed
that Mr Brooking, in his evidence to the Committee on 23 October,
had made reference to the apparent absence of "written evidence"
in relation to the agreement concluded shortly before Christmas
1999 between Mr Ken Bates and myself, for the return of £20
million of lottery funds to Sport England.
In fact, the meeting between myself and Mr Bates
was attended by, and minuted by, my Principal Private Secretary;
and there was subsequent correspondence between the Department,
Sport England, and the Football Association, to record the agreement
after the event. Copies of these various documents rest of course
with the Department rather than with myself.
I hope that this is helpful.
25 October 2001
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