Fresh probe against Vaz

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, MARCH 22. There is to be a fresh inquiry into the controversy-prone Europe Minister, Mr. Keith Vaz's business links with the Hinduja brothers, though on this occasion even his critics acknowledge that it is much ado about nothing.

The inquiry by the parliamentary standards commissioner, Ms. Elizabeth Filkin, follows reports that he did not disclose a payment of a little over £1,000 by the Hinduja Foundation to a company, Mapesbury Communications, run by his wife. The payment was said to be for Mr. Vaz's help in organising a Hindujas-sponsored function in the Commons.

The move, prompted by a Tory MP's complaint, comes a week after Mr. Vaz was criticised by Ms. Filkin for ``obstructing'' a previous inquiry into his affairs even as he was cleared of most of the charges. During that inquiry, he denied receiving any payment from the Hindujas and dissociated himself from any direct role in Mapesbury Communications saying he was not its beneficiary. His wife is the sole shareholder of the company, set up in 1994, and run from Mr. Vaz's home address.

The charge against him is that he did not declare the company in the register of MPs interests and was thus in breach of the code of MPs conduct.

Mr. Vaz claimed on Wednesday that he had checked with Ms. Filkin's predecessor, Sir Gordon Downey, who was then the parliamentary standards commissioner, and was advised that he need not register it. He maintained that he ``never received any benefits or payments from Mapesbury.''

Ms. Filkin in her report last week had said: ``I remain of the view that Mr. Vaz could and should have been more candid and forthcoming in answering my questions about Mapesbury Communications. This is a company originally established by him with the express purpose of receiving his non-parliamentary income and for using the proceeds to support his office.'' This is the latest in a series of turns in his controversial links with the Hinduja brothers which first came to light during the Hindujas' passport affair. In recent weeks, the Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, has come under pressure to sack him for his allegedly questionable judgment in mixing business with politics.

However, Mr. Blair has stood by him and to reinforce his support, he has taken him along to the European Union summit in Stockholm. Observers believe Mr. Vaz may not return to the Government after the elections.

Double-trouble

In what is seen as a ``double whammy'' for the Labour Party, Ms. Filkin has also decided to investigate the allegation against the former Paymaster-General, Mr. Geoffrey Robinson, that he did not disclose the £ 200,000 he took from the controversial publishing tycoon, late Robert Maxwell, to run a Maxwell company. Mr. Robinson had denied this during a previous investigation.

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Section  : International
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