24th June 2008

Statement on donations

Alan announced today that he has issued a formal letter of claim to the News of the World. In an article published on Sunday, 22 June, the newspaper claimed that Mr. Duncan faced demands to explain why he had not declared a donation, which although registered as gift to the Conservative Party, was said to have been made to his private office. The News of the World article also alleged that Mr. Duncan had failed to inform the Registrar of Members’ Interests of a directorship to which he had been appointed.

Alan said today:

“The allegation that I failed to declare a substantial donation received by my office is completely untrue. As the records show, the donation was made to the Conservative Party, not to my office. The allegation that I failed to declare my appointment as a non-executive director of Arawak Energy is also completely untrue. Even before my appointment had been publicly announced on 24 April, I had on 22 April notified the Registrar of Members’ Interests by email that my entry in the register would require amendment. I am astonished that the News of the World has seen fit to publish these allegations without checking the facts with me. I have therefore instructed my lawyers, Carter-Ruck, to write on my behalf to the Editor of the newspaper demanding a correction and a full apology”