Letter from the Clerk of the Committee
on Standards and Privileges to Mr Stephen Lotinga, Parliamentary
Office of the Liberal Democrats, 29 April 2009
The Committee on Standards and Privileges is
carrying out an inquiry into the leaking in February 2009 of an
internal, privileged document of the Select Committee on Culture,
Media and Sport. The document concerned is the Heads of Report
of its inquiry into the BBC's commercial operations. The leak
into which the Committee is inquiring is a report in the Guardian
newspaper of 25 February, a copy of which I enclose. There was
an earlier leak to the same newspaper on 14 February and I enclose
a copy of that report also.
At its meeting yesterday, the Committee asked
me to write to you, requesting your assistance with the inquiry.
The Committee wishes to know whether you had sight of the CMS
Committee's Heads of Report on the BBC's commercial operations
at any time before 25 February; whether you discussed the content
of the CMS Committee's Heads of Report on the BBC's commercial
operations with any person before 25 February; and whether you
are able to explain how the leaks to the Guardian which resulted
in the reports of 14 and 25 February came about. Please also send
me any information you may have which might reasonably be considered
relevant to the Committee's inquiry.
I would be grateful to receive your reply to
this letter as soon as possible, and in any case no later than
11 May. The Committee will then decide whether it needs to take
any further steps, such as requesting oral evidence.
If you wish to discuss in confidence this request
or any aspect of the Committee's inquiry, you are most welcome
to call me.
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