Appendix B: Letter
to the Chairman from Mr Clive Betts
I hope it will assist the Committee's deliberations
if I offer a few comments in writing in response to the Commissioner's
Report.
1. I would ask the Committee to take note of Sir
Philip's acknowledgement that I am the first MP to have volunteered
an investigation into my own conduct. Before and after a complaint
was made I have fully co-operated with Sir Philip.
2. I believe that Sir Philip has produced a fair
report and I will accept the findings of the Committee if it decides
that I have made the errors of judgement contained in Sir Philip's
conclusion. In that event I would wish unreservedly to apologise
for my actions, the inconvenience caused and any embarrassment
that may have been caused to the House. If there has been any
damage to the public's trust and confidence in the integrity of
Parliament I suggest that it has been slight and that the major
damage and embarrassment has been to myself in the very difficult
period that I have had to endure over the last five months.
3. If the Committee does decide that any action is
necessary I would ask that when assessing any recommendation it
should take into account that:
- When I endorsed the application for a security
pass it genuinely did not cross my mind that there might be any
security risk. I believed that I was following the proper procedures
of the security vetting system that dealt comprehensively with
such matters. I also still believe that other members would share
my view as many have indicated to me in recent months. The Commissioner's
comments about the absence of any guidance on the scope of the
security vetting system should, I suggest, also be taken into
account.
- With regard to the photocopy letter and the events
at Stansted I would ask the Committee to accept the Commissioner's
comments about my psychological state. I was very shaken and under
extreme emotional pressure whilst trying to do all that I could
to stop the altered letter being used. Also, as the Commissioner
finds and the evidence shows, I did not represent myself as an
MP.
- I respectfully suggest that the Committee should
take into account that insofar as there was any lack of judgement
on my part this did not in fact cause a security risk to materialise
nor was Customs & Excise misled.
- I would also ask the Committee to take into account
that during 27 years of public service no allegations of impropriety
have ever been made against me, let alone substantiated.
I should be most grateful if this letter could be
placed before the Committee when it meets tomorrow.
7 July 2003
| 
