Select Committee on Standards and Privileges Fifth Report


Annex iv17

Letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards from Mr Keith Vaz MP

Thank you for your letters of 1st October 2001 and 2nd October 2001 in response to my letters of 21st September 2001 and 27th September 2001.

In order to speed matters up I have telephoned your office this morning and spoken to [your PA] who informed me that you have received my letter of 28th September 2001 setting out my answers to all your questions. I tried to telephone your office at 3pm but there was no answer when I called at 5.05 you had just left.

85. In respect of 70a Teignmouth Road there is a misunderstanding. You are referring to electoral registration issues and I am asking about ownership issues. You schedule states that I sold property in 1999 which is wrong (see paragraphs 24 and 76). You base this information on the only office copy entry you have been sent by the BBC which relates to 1999. The missing office copy entry relates to the sale of this flat to the current owners by some other person who may or may not be on your list. It is quite obvious from the new list you have supplied who lived in each flat.

86. I have dealt with all the property issues you raised in paragraphs 74-81. I have corrected the information you have received concerning ownership. As far as I am aware I have addressed all the issues in the folder you sent me of which you asked questions.

87. in paragraph 31 I asked you whether you have met with Ms Eggington you did not respond to this question. Is she acting on your behalf?

88. I have now written to Richmond Council to ensure that this issue can be put to rest once and for all.

89. in your response to my question in 34 you will presumably have a note of your conversation with journalists. All of the complaints before you apart from Mr Peen's derive from newspaper articles. What is the status of the journalists concerned? Are they witnesses? Have you spoken to them? Is there any information they have given you that I need to respond to? I wish to ensure that you have my response to all these matters so that you can give a full and accurate account to the Committee.

90. You have not responded to my request for advice on tabling of questions referred to in paragraph 35.

91. Now that you have all my responses I would be glad if you would let me have a timetable as to when you can send me your draft report.

I look forward to hearing from you.

3 October 2001





 
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