Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.
MP Keith Vaz has been appointed to a parliamentary committee preparing a new law to tackle corruption and money laundering.
The Leicester East MP is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police, who are to determine whether he has committed drugs offences.
The Met Inquiry follows a newspaper sting in which the Sunday Mirror alleged Mr Vaz had a conversation regarding cocaine with male escorts, in which the MP is claimed to have said he did not want to use the drug, but indicated he would pay for it at a later date.
It has emerged Mr Vaz has joined the Criminal Finances Bill committee which is steering legislation through parliament.
The committee met for the first time yesterday but it appears Mr Vaz was not present as his colleagues heard evidence from some of the country's top law enforcement officials.
Mr Vaz's office has not responded to the Mercury's request for a comment.
His place on the 20-strong committee will cause concern after his decision to step down as chairman of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of the newspaper allegations.
The Labour veteran is also coming under pressure to quit his new role as a member of the Commons Justice Committee, which he nominated himself for.
Leicestershire Tory MPs Andrew Bridgen and Sir Edward Garnier have both said Mr Vaz should step down from the Justice Committee.
Sir Edward, a former solicitor general, said it was inappropriate for an MP under police investigation to sit on the committee.
Mr Bridgen has urged the Labour Party to remove Mr Vaz from the Justice Committee if he does not step down voluntarily.
The Labour Party has also not responded to Mercury requests for a comment.
The Criminal Finances Bill will enable improvements in the recovery of the assets of criminals.
The Times said a Labour source had defended Mr Vaz's appointment to the committee insisting it was uncontroversial legislation and Mr Vaz had not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
A statement issued to the Press Association by Keith Vaz's solicitor, Mark Stephens, said the MP welcomed the Met investigation "as a means of establishing the true facts and is confident police will pursue all lines of inquiry.
It added: "He will cooperate with the investigation in any way he can."
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