Coventry North West MP Geoffrey Robinson today vowed to prove his innocence in the "Maxwell Money" case which has seen him criticised by an influential parliamentary committee.

The Standards and Privileges Committee, made up of MPs from all parties, has criticised the former Paymaster General for withholding information and not giving full answers when questioned over a £200,000 payment.

The committee has been looking into accusations that Mr Robinson received a £200,000 payment from Hollis Industries - part of the Maxwell empire.

Mr Robinson claims that his firm TransTec was paid the money and not him personally.

Now Mr Robinson, who accepts the findings, has vowed to track down the cheque to prove his innocence.

"This whole issue originated from the claim that I received £200,000 as chairman of Hollis Industries. My position has been absolutely clear throughout.

"Neither I, nor any company associated with me either directly or indirectly received this money.

"TransTec, not me personally but TransTec, was owed £200,000 for management services to Lock, one of Maxwell's companies. That was a straightforward arrangement.

"The money was owed and the company was asked to pay it, but I completely deny that either I or any company associated with me either directly or indirectly, received it.

"I did not register it as an interest because it was a contract TransTec had with another company and because it was not for me but for the company.

"I did not appreciate that an expected receipt by my company was a registerable interest.

"Having said that, I accept today's decision. I am determined to prove I did not receive the payment. Because the bank destroyed the records in the usual way it is impossible to prove to whom the £200,000 was paid from those records.

"The only way to prove who received the cheque is finding the cheque itself. This will inevitably take some time and I will of course keep the committee informed."

It is the fourth time in four years Mr Robinson, who has the full support of his constituency party, has faced a similar investigation. He resigned from the Government after it was revealed he had loaned Peter Mandelson over £300,000 for the purchase of a London home.

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