Mr David Blair

14 August 2003

Q260  Sir Philip Mawer: No. And you've not had any dealings with him in the context of this story?

Mr David Blair: No I haven't. Not personally. I think Telegraph reporters did contact him. That's my belief. But not me.

Q261  Sir Philip Mawer: Yes. Well there's certainly some reports, I think by—the Diplomatic Editor is one—and some of your colleagues anyway. OK. Well it may be there's nothing further we can usefully pursue down that track and to me he's clearly a figure of interest.

Mr David Blair: Yes. Clearly.

Q262  Ms Alda Barry: Do you know the names of any of his companies?

Mr David Blair: I don't—no.

Mr David Blair: One that's …

Mr David Blair: Oh, I know there's Middle East Advanced Semi Conductors Inc, based in Amman.

Q263  Sir Philip Mawer: That's right. Yes.

Mr David Blair: I seem to remember that's referred to in one of the documents.

Q264  Sir Philip Mawer: Yes, it is . Yes.

Q265  Ms Alda Barry: And it's his email address too.

Q266  Sir Philip Mawer: Yes. Well, thank you I don't have any further questions to put and indeed, I mean, the most important bit of this conversation has not been the questions so much as your account, which is—for which I'm very grateful indeed.

Mr David Blair: Thank you.