Annex IV19
File note by the Parliamentary Commissioner
for Standards
KEITH
VAZ
12 NOVEMBER
2001
MEETING
WITH
MRS
GRESTY,
MISS
EGGINGTON
AND
MR
GRESTY
Following the telephone call from Mrs Gresty on Thursday
evening and receipt of the letter from Mr Gresty I had suggested
they both meet with me today so that Mrs Gresty could tell me
what she wished to do in relation to the statements that she had
made previously.
Mrs Gresty was obviously under considerable pressure.
Her husband said that they still have not agreed about the way
forward. He said, whatever, his letter to me was to remain on
record.
I asked Mrs Gresty what she had decided to do and
she asked questions about my process, the Committee's process
and the publication process. After consideration of these issues
she told me that she was going to allow her statement to remain
although she felt under very considerable pressure and threat.
She said she felt it would be worse for her if she withdrew her
statement at this point. Mrs Gresty said that she would write
to me to confirm this.
I asked Mrs Gresty whether she is involved in tribunal
proceedings against Mrs Vaz. She was obviously shocked. She said
she is not involved in any proceedings against Mrs Vaz.
She made it clear to me that she was anxious because
she believed that employees do owe a duty of confidentiality to
their employers and therefore she was putting herself under pressure
as to whether she should or should not have provided this information
to me. She made it clear that it was only because of what she
had read in the newspapers that she felt that she ought to tell
the truth.
Mr Gresty pointed out to Mrs Gresty during the discussion
instances where he believed that Mr or Mrs Vaz had not told the
truth. * * *
I thanked Mrs Gresty, Miss Eggington and Mr Gresty
for coming. Mrs Gresty said she would write to me.
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