A British Foreign Office minister has refused to answer questions about his alleged part in a passport scandal as Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair comes under increasing pressure over his government's links to a billionaire Indian family.
The scandal, involving the Hinduja brothers who control a global business empire, led earlier this week to the resignation of Mr Blair's closest ally, Mr Peter Mandelson.
The guns of the media and political opposition have now been turned on junior Foreign Office minister Mr Keith Vaz who is responsible for relations with Europe.
Mr Vaz has declined to comment on whether he made any contact with the Home Office on behalf of the Hinduja brothers' passport applications.
Mr Vaz said all questions relating to the matter will be properly addressed by the inquiry set up to investigate the events surrounding Srichand Hinduja securing a UK passport..
"I am very happy if Sir Anthony (Hammond) wants to publish my letters," he told reporters before a reception at the Indian High Commission in central London. He added it was not unusual for various people who invest in this country to be given naturalisation very quickly.
Earlier, the Conservative Party’s Ms Ann Widdecombe told reporters she wanted to know what links Mr Vaz had with the brothers, including Srichand, the oldest of the four who heads the business empire.
British newspapers reported that Mr Vaz, Britain's first minister of Asian origin, wrote both to Mr Blair and Mr Mandelson in October, 1997, about giving Srichand a passport.
The alleged inquiry was made before Mr Vaz was appointed to his ministerial post.
PA/Reuters