From: David Beaumont

Sent: 20 September 2000 16:10

To: ‘Hobday Michael’

Subject: RE: ATTN: Bill Rammell, RogerLyons.com

Thanks for your reply. As I understand it Lyons will be asking for your support on 24th October, I take it from your reply that you do not feel it is appropriate to give it, which is fair enough.

As for the expenses I listed, the internal union report makes it clear that these were not claims for ‘hospitality’ but were for ‘sustenance’. The total value of similar claims comes to £7,300 according to the union’s accountant's independent (sic) audit report. This Guardian article Union chief 'claimed expenses worth fifth of salary' indicates a figure of £14,000 a year

The same ‘independent’ audit report did not come to a similar view to yours about claims for; petrol whilst on holiday, claims for a radio and video recorder, and unauthorised loans totalling £6,000.

Please may I recommend that you acquaint yourself with the large amount of evidence on the web site in case you're asked for support and do not wish to abstain.

Thanks

David Beaumont.

-----Original Message-----

From: Hobday Michael [mailto:HOBDAYM@parliament.uk]

<mailto:[mailto:HOBDAYM@parliament.uk]>

Sent: 20 September 2000 14:34

To: ‘david@rogerlyons.com’

Subject: RE: ATTN: Bill Rammell, RogerLyons.com

David,

Thank you for your email.

Could I say first of all that I do not believe that it would be appropriate

for me to become involved in this matter. It is not the job of MSF

sponsored MPs to intervene in matters which can quite properly be dealt with

by the union’s executive, a number of whom as I understand are not

supporters of Roger Lyons. You ask my view of the “sanity” of Roger Lyons claiming for

the cost of drinks after meetings with MSF MPs. While I have not been the beneficiary

of this hospitality, as an individual member of MSF, I would suggest that

this is potentially good value for money to the union. The cost of a few

pounds (varying, you say, from £2.50 to £11.40) to continue talking to

Labour MPs about issues of concern to MSF members is probably well spent in

terms of making sure that MPs work effectively to get MSF’s message across

to Government. I note that the independent audit report came to a similar

view.

Bill Rammell MP