Police ask MPs to delay cash-for-peerages inquiry
Police ask MPs to delay cash-for-peerages inquiry
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Tuesday, 16, May 2006 05:46
MPs involved in inquiry into the cash-for-peerages allegations have put back certain proceedings until the autumn following advice from the Metropolitan police.
The Commons public administration committee will not interview any people connected with the allegations until September because Scotland Yard bosses do not wish their own inquiries to be undermined.
The committee only opened earlier today, but following the Met's request, the only evidence to be heard until later this year was provided by cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell, Lord Stevenson, chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission and former Conservative cabinet member Lord Hurd.
Lord Stevenson told committee MPs that peers were among the last to find out about the cash-for-peerages allegations, saying: "When did we become aware of the saliency of loans in the most recent list? When we read that a particularly large loan had been made by one of the nominees."
He added: "We moved very fast and got round all three political parties. It was rather late in the consideration and we had to move very fast."
Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the committee, explained the decision to delay hearings was made because MPs did not want to interfere with police proceedings, but pledged to continue certain aspects of the inquiry and produce an interim report shortly.
"It's pretty clear that some of the witnesses that we have identified are very much in the frame as far as the police are concerned," he said.
Mr Wright stated that the allegations over peerages behind offered in exchange for loans to the UK's major three political parties remained an issue that it was important for MPs to investigate.
"These are big important public issues, but I want to be responsible and above all I don't want it to be said at any point that we compromised police action."
Meanwhile, John Yates, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, revealed that the police inquiry was making "significant progress" and that he expected an update to be issued during the summer after the questioning of key witnesses.
