Annex P
Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards from Mr Roy Beggs MP
Reference Annex L and my letter of 22.8.01.[26]
As I made a mistake at Para. 30 page 10 which should
read
| 1989-90 | £560.00
|
| 90-91 | 2080.00 |
| 91-92 | 1297.00 |
| 92-93 | 2080.00 |
my subsequent calculations were incorrect.
I request that the enclosed letter should be accepted
in place of letter dated 22.8.01.
Reference Annex B there is a typing error in para.
3 1998 should read 1988.
Reference Annex O.[27]
14. there is a typing error at 89-90 £1,400 should read £1,460.
Reference Draft Memorandum page 21 para. 46 £560
is the answer to question 3 of your letter and was for 16 weeks
rent claimed 1989-90 for 41 Station Road, Larne.
Reference para. 49 page 23.
I note that "substantial value" has not
yet been defined. The Fifteenth Report of session 1999-2000 recommended
"Substantial Value" should be defined as 50% of current
parliamentary salary and "substantial income" as 10%
of current parliamentary salary. It would appear that 41 Station
Road did not require rental income to be registered.
Ref. p. 50. I accepted the Committee decision but
in the light of para 49 the decision seemed unfair.
Ref. p. 51. I refer you again to your para 49 and
consider that neither the property which cost £10,000 nor
the rental income required to be registered.
Ref. p. 52 as for p. 51
Ref. p. 53 as for p. 51
Ref. p. 54 as for p. 51
Ref. p. 55 The valuation at £28,000 was only
established when I obtain a value for transfer and tax purposes.
It should be noted in your para. 55 that the purchase price was
£10,000 in 1988 and valuation was only established after
our decision to gift the property to our daughters and when it
was no longer in my shared ownership.
Ref. para. 56. I again refer you to para. 49. I did
not believe the property was of substantial value.
I regret that you appear to be determined to conclude
that I have misled you and the Committee.
It was because I answered press questions that further
complaints were forwarded to you.
I still do not consider that Glynn Road property
purchased in 1983 for £2,000 which required extensive refurbishment
was of "substantial value" and required to be registered,
nor did I consider that 41, Station Road which cost £10,000
was of "Substantial value" and required registration.
The property at 8 Glynn Road had been purchased through a Vesting
order by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for approx. £10,000.
The Station Road property was purchased in 1988 when
vesting of Glynn Road properties was going to be implemented.
No claim for rent allowance was made in respect of
41, Station Road for August 88-December 89 although the rental
valuation of Valuation and Lands Agency for the period was £2,340
per annum. No rental allowance has ever been claimed in respect
of 9, Carnduff Road, Larne which is my home address.
It is my opinion that the new Standards and Privileges
Committee could help all members by clearly defining "Substantial
Value" and "Substantial Income".
Received 9 October 2001
26 See Annex K. Back
27 See
Annex N. Back
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