Email from Ms Alice Aitken, Office of
Don Foster MP to the Clerk of the Committee on Standards and Privileges,
18 May 2009 at 17:41
You asked me to respond to some further questions
regarding your inquiry. My answers are as follows:
(1) Did you and do you routinely receive
from Tom Smith or from any other person working in the office
of Adrian Sanders MP papers circulated for the use of members
of the Committee on Culture, Media and Sport? If not, are you
able to state on how many occasions you received such papers?
Over the last six months I have occasionally
received committee papers from Tom Smith. I am unable to say for
certain exactly how many times I received these papers as I do
not keep records of all my emails but I believe it to be between
10 and 15 times. I have not received any committee papers since
February 2009, and have never received papers from any person
other than Tom Smith.
(2) At whose instigation has Mr Smith
or any other person working in the office of Adrian Sanders MP
sent you papers intended for members of the Committee on Culture,
Media and Sport?
I am not aware that papers were sent to me on
the instigation of anybody. They were never requested by me or
anyone in my office.
(3) On 23 January, you forwarded papers
intended for members of the Committee on Culture, Media and Sport
to Stephen Lotinga. Did you and do you routinely do this? If not,
are you able to state on how many occasions you have forwarded
such papers to Mr Lotinga?
I forwarded committee papers to Mr Lotinga on
a number of occasions. I cannot say exactly how many times as
I do not keep records of my sent emails.
(4) At whose instigation have you forwarded
papers intended for members of the Committee on Culture, Media
and Sport to Mr Lotinga?
Mr Lotinga did not request that I send him any
committee papers, nor did any other person. Mr Lotinga is the
Liberal Democrats' advisor on all issues relating to Culture,
Media and Sport. It is practise to forward him any documents that
I receive and consider to be relevant to his role.
(5) Have you forwarded papers intended
for members of the Committee on Culture, Media and Sport to any
other person? If so, to whom and when?
I forwarded Committee papers to Don Foster MP
on a limited number of occasions. I cannot say exactly how many
times as I do not keep records of my sent emails.
(6) Have you ever discussed the content
of papers intended for members of the Committee on Culture, Media
and Sport with any person other than Mr Sanders or any person
working in Mr Sanders' office? If so, when and with whom?
I have never discussed the content of committee
papers with any person, including Mr Sanders and his staff.
If you require any further assistance please
do not hesitate to contact me.
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