Crown Commercial Service is helping the public sector to test the quality of IT services with a new framework agreement, developed in partnership with the Home Office.

Quality and Assurance Testing is live now, and gives central government and the wider public sector access to pre-evaluated suppliers of IT testing services.

Of the 42 suppliers on the framework, 26 (62%) are small and medium-sized enterprises.

What is the framework for?

If you’re designing and/or building a digital requirement or cloud service integration, you may need independent, specialist quality assurance and/or testing before you go live to ensure a smooth implementation.

The new agreement complements other digital agreements such as:

• Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS)
• G-Cloud
• Cyber Security Services
• Crown Hosting

The services available will support testing functionality, usability and performance using independent specialist service expertise.

What is on offer?

Buyers can choose from one of four flexible mini competition options, to select their supplier to deliver a wide range of testing and quality assurance services.

Services available under the new agreement are:

• Lot 1: Quality Assurance and Testing Specialists
• Lot 2: Automation, Agile and Development Opportunities
• Lot 3: Load and Performance Testing
• Lot 4: Functional Testing
• Lot 5: Infrastructure Testing and Environments
• Lot 6: Operational Acceptance Testing and Disaster Recovery
• Lot 7: Quality Assurance and Testing Management
• Lot 8: Strategic Quality Assurance Consultancy

Buyer Confidence

Only Suppliers who have passed the Home Office’s robust evaluation will be able to bid for work under the agreement, giving you an extra level of reassurance.

All Suppliers on this agreement have signed up to government terms and conditions, making tendering simple and effective.

Want to know more?

Complete the online form to register your interest in the Quality Assurance and Testing for IT Systems agreement.

Yesterday, Nessa Anne Thompson, of Thompson Waste Recycling Ltd was sentenced at Hull Crown Court in relation to two charges relating to waste site operations in Scunthorpe. This followed as a result of the defendant pleading guilty to both offences.

Ms Thompson from Scotter Road, Scunthorpe was sentenced to a total of 6 months in custody. She was also disqualified from being a director for a period of 7 years.

The charges were brought by the Environment Agency contrary to section 33(1)(c) and section 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and one contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and Regulation 41(1) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2010.

Ms Thompson operated an illegal waste operation for the company that had previously held a permit until it went into administration before liquidation. The permit at this point was formally disclaimed.

The site at Winterton Road in Scunthorpe continued to be used and waste was stored in large quantities and in such a manner that it presented a human health and fire risk.

When the site did catch fire on 6 May 2014, firefighters attending the scene were even advised not to re-use the firewater due to the risk of waterborne diseases linked to the number of rats on site.

As a result of inadequate fire breaks at the site efforts to prevent the spread of fire was hampered, causing a greater impact to the adjacent businesses and the wider community.

Speaking after the case, an Environment Agency officer involved with the investigation said:

This site posed a risk to property, the local environment, and people’s health because our advice was ignored.

This prosecution demonstrates that we take cases such as this very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute if necessary, to protect the environment and local communities.

In mitigation, the court heard that the defendant had pleaded guilty to both offences and she was given credit for that. It also heard that her partner was in poor health and that they were both suffering from significant financial hardship.

In passing sentence, the judge said there had been a deliberate flouting of environmental regulations by the defendant. He commented that as the Technically Competent Manager for the site, she would have been well aware that there was no permit in place at the site. He found that there had been attempts to conceal the illegal activity. The judge noted that Ms Thompson has previous convictions for breaches of environmental legislation, for which she was under investigation at the time the current offences were committed. He said that this amounted to a significant aggravating feature.

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Notes to Editors

Charges

Count 1

PERMITTING THE TREATING, KEEPING OR DISPOSING OF CONTROLLED WASTE IN A MANNER LIKELY TO CAUSE POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT OR HARM TO HUMAN HEALTH contrary to Section 33(1)(c) and Section 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990

NESSA ANNE THOMPSON as director of Thompson Waste Recycling Ltd, on or before 6 May 2014 Thompson Waste Recycling Ltd Thompson Yard, Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 0DH, did treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution to the environment or harm to human health on land at Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 0DH, namely mixed waste that was being brought onto the site, processed and stored in a manner which posed a fire risk and which did result in two fires on site, and the said offence was committed with your consent, connivance, or attributable to your neglect, as director.

Count 2

PERMITTING THE OPERATION OF A REGULATED FACILITY WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT contrary to Regulation 12(1)(a) and Regulation 38(1)(a) and Regulation 41(1)(a) and (b) of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010

NESSA ANNE THOMPSON, as director of Thompson Waste Recycling Ltd, between 18 March 2014 and 13 August 2014 Thompson Waste Recycling Ltd of Thompson Yard, Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 0DH, operated a regulated facility, which was not authorised by a permit, namely a non-exempt waste operation, on land at Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 0DH, involving the deposit and processing of waste at the site and the said offence was committed with your consent, connivance, or attributable to your neglect, as director.

Dr Tapeshwar Anand, the sole director of Q Healthcare Ltd, which traded as Q Clinic from premises in Harley Street, London, has signed an undertaking to be disqualified as a director for seven years after spending over £1 million of company money, received from patients for dental treatments, on a personally-owned property in Combloux, France.

The funds were spent between July 2009 and March 2013, resulting in the company falling into arrears with paying its liabilities to creditors.

At the date the company entered into administration, no value was listed against the expenditure as an asset, as the company had no legal interest in the overseas property, resulting in a deficiency as regards creditors of £1,080,093.

In agreeing a disqualification undertaking Mr Anand accepted that while a director of Q Healthcare Limited, he breached his fiduciary duties and failed to act in the best interests of the company and its creditors. Specifically, by causing the company to incur expenditure of at least £1,040,254 between July 2009 and March 2013 on an overseas property which he owned personally, and over which the company had no legal charge or security.

Commenting on the disqualification, Martin Gitner, Deputy Head of Investigations at the Insolvency Service, said:

It is clear that Dr Anand breached his duties as a director by using company funds to finance the refurbishment of a personally owned property, which means taxpayers and other creditors, lose out considerably.

This disqualification should serve as a warning that if directors behave in this way their conduct will be investigated fully by the Insolvency Service and they will be removed from the business environment.

Notes to editors

Dr Anand’s date of birth is February 1974 and he currently resides in New Delhi, India.

Q Healthcare Ltd (CRO No. 04369068) was incorporated on 7 February 2002 and latterly traded from 139 Harley Street, London W1G 6BG providing dental health treatment.

Dr Anand was a director from incorporation.

The Company went into Administration on 21 May 2013 with an estimated deficiency of £1,080,093.

On 20 March 2017, the Secretary of State accepted a Disqualification Undertaking from Tapeshwar Anand, effective from 10 April 2017, for 7 years.

At the time of the expenditure the company was insolvent on a balance sheet basis. The source of funds used to pay for the overseas property was monies received from patients for the provision of dental treatments.

A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:

• act as a director of a company
• take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
• be a receiver of a company’s property

Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.

Between June 2010 and April 2013 at least 137 reminders, pressing letters and/or warnings of proposed legal actions were sent by suppliers.

By March 2011 the company was in arrears with paying its taxation liabilities to H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and by June 2012 HMRC took enforcement action in respect of unpaid tax liabilities totalling £124,970.

By May 2011 the company was in arrears with making payments to the key supplier of dental products; in 2012 the key supplier placed restrictions, and ultimately a stop, on the supply of further goods to the company as a result of the arrears.

By April 2013 winding up proceedings were being commenced against the company by two creditors: HMRC for tax liabilities of £87,449 and a credit finance provider for liabilities of £46,062.

The company went into Administration on 21 May 2013 owing unsecured liabilities to unconnected parties totalling £431,518 (comprising £117,029 to patients for dental treatments not supplied; £180,569 to trade & expense suppliers; £113,691 to HMRC for tax; £20,229 to a bank) and unsecured liabilities to me totalling £836,684.

Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

Highways England has announced plans for major improvements to Switch Island in Merseyside, where the M57, M58 and 3 A roads all join together.

The scheme is being funded by the government’s £220 million congestion relief programme, which was announced by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling last month.

Construction work at the junction, which is used by over 90,000 vehicles every day, is expected to start next year. The scheme is designed to improve the flow of traffic and enhance safety, following 49 collisions at the junction in the past 2 years.

New traffic lights will be installed at a height of over 5 metres – higher than HGVs and double-decker buses – so that drivers approaching the junction can clearly see when the lights are changing.

Other improvements will include changes to the road layout and lane markings, new barriers between carriageways, coloured high friction surfaces and better signs.

Bruce Parker, Asset Development Manager at Highways England, said:

We’re delighted we’ve been able to secure funding from the government for this scheme, and can now carry out the detailed design and planning work before construction starts next year.

The improvements we’re making at Switch Island will improve journeys and safety at the junction, benefitting the tens of thousands of drivers who travel through it every day.

Jerry McConkey, Transportation and Highway Infrastructure Service Manager at Sefton Council, said:

“We’ve been working with Highways England and Merseyside Police over the last 12 months to investigate the issues at Switch Island and to develop these improvement proposals.

It is great news that Highways England has secured this funding and we will continue working with them to improve the junction and make it safer for everyone using it.

Tony Jones, Chief Inspector of Roads Policing at Merseyside Police, said:

We welcome any improvements to the road infrastructure which assists drivers and makes the network safer for drivers and pedestrians.

Four congestion relief schemes, worth £6.4 million, have already been announced in the North West, with a further £21 million set aside for other schemes in the region, including the Switch Island upgrade.

The four schemes will see improvements made to two junctions where the A595 meets the A66 in Cumbria, at Norcross roundabout on the A585 near Thornton-Cleveleys in Lancashire, and at junction 3 of the M55 near Kirkham in Lancashire.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.