UK-VAZ 2 LAST

The UK’s Charity Commission said it was aware of the The UK’s Charity Commission said it was aware of thereport and would consider getting involved if it felt therewas any impropriety. In his only statement so far, Vaz has apologised to hisfamily for "hurt and distress" caused, adding: "It is deeplydisturbing that a national newspaper should have paidindividuals to have acted in this way. I have referred theseallegations to my solicitor Mark Stephens of Howard Kennedywho will consider them carefully and advise me accordingly. "At this time I do not want there to be any distractionfrom the important work the Home Affairs Select Committeeundertakes so wellÂ… I will of course inform committee membersfirst of my plans when we meet on Tuesday. "My decision has been based entirely on what is in thebest interests of the committee which I have had the privilegeof chairing for the last nine years." Under VazÂ’s chairmanship, the Home Affairs Committeerecently concluded that soliciting by prostitutes should nolonger be a crime. Vaz had also opposed a UK government plan to outlaw"poppers" and ministers ultimately decided not to make theiruse illegal. The Goa-born MP for Leicester East has served as Europeminister under former prime minister Tony Blair between 1999and 2001. His sister, Valerie Vaz, is also an MP since the May2010 general election. PTI AKZH