Conduct Of The Right Honourable Member For Epsom And Ewell

EDM number 1335 in 1993-94, proposed by Nick Ainger on 15/06/1994.

That this House notes that the Right honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell, as Minister for the Armed Forces, was instrumental in fhe final decision in January 1992 to close RNAD Trecwn in North Pembrokeshire, with the consequent loss of nearly 500 jobs and ú10 million a year from the local economy; that he made his resignation speech in the House on 10th June 1993; that the meaning of his statement in that speech that his resignation 'opens new opportunities and possibilities for me' became clear when he joined Crown Ridge Industries as a director with a 25 per cent. shareholding on 14th December 1993; and that Crown Ridge Industries has expressed the strongest possible interest in buying RNAD Trecwn with a view to commercial development; believes that the action of the Right honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell, in attempting to make a profit from the misfortune of the people of West Wales, shows gross insensitivity and raises serious ethical questions, especially since he joined Crown Ridge barely six months after leaving office; demands that the Prime Minister investigates whether there has been any breach of rules or conventions governing the behaviour of ex-ministers; believes that rules for ministers should prevent former ministers seeking to profit in this way from their own actions when in government; and condemns the action of the Right honourable Member for Epsom and Ewell as another example of Tory greed and sleaze.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs.