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WHAT HAPPENED ON 11th December 1996?
10th December 1996
TORIES TO KEEP CONTROL OF COMMITTEES
The Tories are to keep their dominance of committees despite losing their official Commons majority. MPs like Sir John Gorst who said the Government could no longer count on his vote still count as Tories according to the parliamentary rule book. And Barry Porter who died last month will also count as a Tory for committee purposes until a by-election. His Wirral South seat could stay vacant till the general election.
11th December 1996
WILLETTS RESIGNS OVER COMMITTEE REPORT
Paymaster General David Willetts has resigned after being criticised in a Commons committee report on his role in the Neil Hamilton inquiry. He quit as the Commons Standards & Privileges Committee published a report accusing him of concealing information in its cash-for-questions inquiry. Mr Willetts said he was very sorry his integrity had been called into question He said he stood by his evidence to the Committee.
11th December 1996
WILLETTS EVIDENCE "INACCURATE" MPs SAY
The Commons committee investigating the Willetts affair has accused the former minister of giving inaccurate evidence. In its report the Standards & Privileges Committee says it will in future take evidence under oath. It says the inaccuracy of Mr Willetts' evidence had "substantially aggravated the original offence". "We are very concerned that any Member should dissemble in his account to the committee " it added.
10th December 1996
COMMITTEE DIVIDED OVER WILLETTS' FATE
A committee of MPs is set to reconvene after failing to agree over the fate of Government minister David Willetts in the cash-for-questions row aftermath. The Standards & Privileges Committee is split along party lines after 15 hours of secret deliberations. Both sides are threatening a minority report if they do not get their own way Mr Willetts is accused of intervening in an inquiry into the cash-for- questions allegations.
11th December 1996
WILLETTS RESIGNS OVER COMMITTEE REPORT
Paymaster General David Willetts has resigned after being criticised in a Commons committee report on his role in the Neil Hamilton inquiry. He quit as the Commons Standards & Privileges Committee published a report accusing him of concealing information in its cash-for-questions inquiry. Mr Willetts said he was very sorry his integrity had been called into question He said he stood by his evidence to the Committee.
11th December 1996
COMMITTEE SET UP OVER FOOD POISONING
Downing Street has confirmed that a new Cabinet sub-committee has been set up to examine the implications of the outbreak of E-coli food poisoning. It will include the Scottish Health and Agriculture Secretaries. Eleven people have died of the bug in Scotland The panel is likely to examine food hygiene rules & recent changes. It will also consider reports from the expert group chaired by Hugh Pennington and the fatal accident inquiry.
10th December 1996
TRUST PAYOUTS SET FOR THE NEW YEAR
Compensation following the Deutsche Morgan Grenfell unit trust scandal could be paid out in early 1997. However city watchdog IMRO said it was too early to say how much this could amount to. In September the bank had to suspend dealing in three investments after "possible irregularities" were found. The funds in question contained a proportion of shares in non-stock market firms higher than the limit allowed under City regulations.
11th December 1996
WILLETTS RESIGNS OVER COMMITTEE REPORT
Paymaster General David Willetts has resigned after being criticised in a Commons committee report on his role in the Neil Hamilton inquiry. He quit as the Commons Standards & Privileges Committee published a report accusing him of concealing information in its cash-for-questions inquiry. Mr Willetts said he was very sorry his integrity had been called into question He said he stood by his evidence to the Committee.
11th December 1996
WILLETTS MUST QUIT AS MP LABOUR SAYS
Labour has called on David Willetts to follow up his resignation as Paymaster General by quitting as an MP. Deputy leader John Prescott condemned what he called Mr Willetts' arrogance in saying he stood by his evidence to the Standards & Privileges Committee. He said the affair was "another massive embarrassment for John Major". He claimed it was another example "of the Government disintegrating before our eyes".
