Britain's Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer has begun an inquiry into allegations against deputy prime minister John Prescott.
Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott leaves Number 10 Downing Street after the weekly cabinet meeting today
The announcement came after Mr Prescott went on the radio to issue a strong denial of any impropriety in his relationship with US billionaire Philip Anschutz, who is hoping to build a super-casino in the Millennium Dome.
Sir Philip's investigation will focus on claims by shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire that Mr Prescott's visit to Mr Anschutz's Colorado ranch should have been entered in the Register of MPs' Interests.
Other allegations that Mr Prescott's regular meetings with Mr Anschutz created a conflict of interest are covered by the Ministerial Code and are a matter for the Prime Minister Tony Blair, said the commissioner's spokeswoman.
Mr Mawer expects to produce a report for the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee by the time parliamentary recess starts on July 25th.
Mr Prescott yesterday bowed to pressure to enter last July's visit to the Colorado ranch in the Register of Members' Interests, just a day after insisting that it was not necessary to do so, as he was in the United States on official business and had paid for his stay from public funds.
After Mr Anschutz declined payment for the stay, Mr Prescott's office paid $600 to a charity of his choice to cover it, although Mr Prescott this morning said he was not aware of this arrangement at the time.
In his first broadcast interview since the disclosure earlier this year of his affair with secretary Tracey Temple, a defiant Mr Prescott this morning declared he had no intention of standing down as Britain's Deputy Prime Minister.
He said he was "very sorry" about the damage done to his government by the affair. But he strongly defended his contacts with Mr Anschutz and denied any suggestion of improper influence.
"I will get on with doing my job and I am not leaving it, I am getting on with it," Mr Prescott told BBC Radio 4's Todayprogramme.
He acknowledged however that the publicity he had attracted since the disclosure of his affair with Ms Temple had not helped the government.
PA