Editing Cash-for-questions affair (section)

===Standard and Privileges Committee Report===
====[[Michael Brown (British politician)|Michael Brown]]====
{{quote|Mr Brown failed to register an introduction payment from Mr Greer in relation to US Tobacco.

Mr Brown persistently and deliberately failed to declare his interests in dealing with Ministers and officials over the [[Skoal Bandits]] issue.

Mr Brown has expressed regret for these omissions.}}

====Sir [[Peter Hordern (politician)|Peter Hordern]]====
{{quote|He had no obligation to disclose to Ministers the interests of his colleagues.

Although the extent to which he declared his own interests on [[House of Fraser]] matters fell well short of the terms of the 1974 Resolution, there is no evidence that Ministers and officials were misled by this.

The spirit of the rules would have been better observed had Sir Peter made a separate Register entry in respect of Mr Al Fayed's hospitality, but this omission was not improper by the standards accepted at the time.

The allegation that Sir Peter tabled questions for cash is without substance and has been withdrawn.}}

====Sir [[Andrew Bowden]]====
{{quote|There is insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation that Sir Andrew received, or demanded, cash payments from Mr Al Fayed in return for lobbying services.

The election donation of £5,319 from Mr Greer was intended as a reward for lobbying and Sir Andrew probably knew it came originally from Mr Al Fayed.

Sir Andrew failed to register, as he should have done, this election campaign donation.

Sir Andrew failed to declare his interests in dealings with Ministers and officials over House of Fraser, and, in one case, gave a positively misleading explanation for his representations.}}

====Sir [[Michael Grylls]]====

{{quote|Sir Michael received payments from Mr Greer (though not in cash) which were neither introduction commissions nor fees associated with the Unitary Tax Campaign.

It is not possible to conclude that these payments originated from Mr Al Fayed, although Sir Michael actively participated in the Greer lobbying operation.

Sir Michael deliberately misled the Select Committee on Members' Interests in 1990 by seriously understating the number of commission payments he had received; and by omitting to inform them of other fees received from Mr Greer.

Sir Michael persistently failed to declare his interests in dealings with ministers and officials over the House of Fraser.

Sir Michael's action in taking a commission payment for introducing a constituent to Mr Greer was unacceptable.

There is insufficient evidence to show that Sir Michael solicited business for Mr Greer in expectation of commission payments.}}

====Mr [[Tim Smith (British politician)|Tim Smith]]====
{{quote|Mr Smith accepted cash payments directly from Mr Al Fayed of between £18,000 and £25,000 in return for lobbying services. There is no evidence to indicate that he received cash from Mr Al Fayed indirectly through Mr Greer.

The way in which these payments were received and concealed fell well below the standards expected of members of parliament.

The allegation that Mr Smith was paid to initiate an Adjournment debate in 1986 is not substantiated.

Mr Smith's financial interest in relation to House of Fraser was only registered in January 1989 when it had been publicly exposed by Mr Rowland; and then only hesitantly for a period of two and a half weeks. This has to be seen as a disingenuous attempt at concealment. On any view, this was a totally unacceptable form of registration by Mr Smith.

Mr Smith persistently and deliberately failed to declare his interests in dealings with ministers and officials over House of Fraser issues.

To his credit, Mr Smith eventually admitted receiving payments, although not until he was asked in 1994; and he expressed his regrets for the non-registration and non-declaration of interests.

Smith accepted cash payments directly from Mr Al Fayed of between £18,000 and £25,000 in return for lobbying services… persistently and deliberately failed to declare his interests in dealings with Ministers and officials over House of Fraser issues … Mr Smith's conduct fell seriously below the standards which the House is entitled to expect … had he still been a Member we would recommend a substantial period of suspension from the service of the House.}}