I write to ask that you investigate and report on the fact that Mr Geoffrey Robinson, MP for Coventry North West, had a remunerated directorship from 1984 until 1987 which he failed to declare in the Register of Members' Interests.

I enclose extracts from the published accounts of Swiss EDM Ltd, which changed its name on November 6, 1986 to Agie UK Ltd.¹[10] This company makes and distributes machine tools in the UK and internationally. You will see that Mr Robinson was the Chairman and highest paid director of this company. He is listed as having emoluments as follows:

1984	—	£25,800
1985	—	£50,750
1986	—	£16,811
1987	—	£17,269
1988	—	£21,216

Mr Robinson's first declaration of this interest was in December 1987.

You will know that the rules governing the Register of Members' Interests at the time required a Member to record, "information of any pecuniary interest which might be thought to affect his conduct as a Member or influence his actions, speeches or vote." A specific classification provided for remunerated directorships of companies, whether public or private. Members were required to notify changes or additions to their interests within four weeks.

As well as being a Member of Parliament, Mr Robinson was a Labour front bench spokesman on trade and industry matters during these years. It appears that he failed to disclose an important and well-remunerated directorship of an engineering company for at least three years although in the Register he did disclose two non-remunerated directorships, for West Midlands Enterprise Board and Dudley Foundry Ltd. I enclose the relevant extracts from the Register for ease of reference.²[11]

Omissions and failures to register by Conservative Party Members were treated as very serious matters incurring disciplinary action in the last Parliament. I would be most grateful for your views and what action you will recommend in the case of Mr Geoffre

y Robinson.

19 February 1998

^{2 11}  See Annex E. Back