Tag Archives: HM Government

Servicemen and women deployed abroad have sent Christmas messages to their families and friends. Thousands of UK Armed Forces personnel, many of them Welsh, are working across the globe this Christmas to help keep Britain safe at home and abroad.

Hundreds of soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh will be spending Christmas in Estonia where they’re currently renewing the UK’s commitment to our NATO allies in Europe and standing ready to defend in the face of any potential aggression.

The Royal Welsh currently lead the 800 strong multinational Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup, supported by other British Army units.

For them Christmas will involve a physical training session, a religious service and a Christmas lunch which will provide the opportunity to share a familiar tradition with NATO partners and Estonian guests.

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

Christmas can be a difficult time for our Armed Forces personnel working on important operations around the globe, when separation from their families, loved ones and friends is felt most acutely.

Wales’ military footprint can be seen all over the world, and for them duty never stops. I want to extend my very best wishes to you all this Christmas and New Year and say that we in Wales are ever-thankful for the sacrifices you make – not just during the festive season but every day of the year.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Owain Luke said:

While Christmas is normally a time to spend with family, the soldiers of the eFP Battlegroup understand that they have a crucial role to play in helping to defend Estonia. I am very proud of how well they have performed so far and we will make a special effort to ensure that as many as possible of the usual Christmas traditions are enjoyed over the next few days. The Estonians have already helped here, with the staff in the Ministry of Defence buying two Christmas trees for the Battlegroup, for which we are immensely grateful.

In total UK troops are involved in 25 operations in more than 30 countries. Currently around 1,000 people are working to fight Daesh and train the local security forces from locations in Iraq and the wider Middle East as well as from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. In the Caribbean, RFA Mounts Bay joins other Royal Navy vessels also deployed over the festive period.

Since 1969 the UK has had a submarine on patrol for every minute of every day, providing the UK’s nuclear deterrent and this Christmas is no different. In the South Atlantic, around 1,000 personnel are stationed in the Falkland Islands. In Afghanistan, troops from the Army and other Services are training Afghan National Security Forces.

In total over 5,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and airwomen are serving on operations across the globe in locations ranging from South Sudan and Somalia where they’re undertaking vital engineering work, to places like Poland and Estonia where they’re providing reassurance to NATO allies.

Fusilier Ryan Jenkins, 26, Lincolnshire, Royal Welsh,

Although it has been hard work over here in Estonia, especially when working out how to cope with a new environment, it has been an enjoyable challenge. Whilst it is never nice being away from my family (especially at Christmas), there are a good bunch of people here and I’m making the most of being in a new country.

Fusilier David Hagart, 18, Abergavenny, Royal Welsh,

Being in Estonia is my first deployment whilst serving in the army, it is a new experience and my first Christmas away from my home and family. I miss them loads, and I look forward to seeing them in February when I get back.

Lance Corporal Sheldon, Royal Welsh added (Welsh language):

Nadolig lawen a Blwyddyn Newydd da i chi gyd – tadcu, teulu a ffrindiau. Dw i’n edrych ymlaen at weld chi dros cyfnod y Nadolig – yn yfed ac yn bwyta pethau melys!

Dw i wedi mwynhau fy amser allan yn Estonia, yn dysgu a’n cymysgu gyda pobol lleuol. Dw i’n dod nol am dair mis i wneud cwrs ond byddai nol yn Estonia ym mis Ebrill i ddal lan gyda gwaith. Hwyl am y tro.

ENDS

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Mr Shakoor’s disqualification follows an investigation by the Insolvency Service into the liquidation of Raptor Commerce Ltd.

Between 5 December 2005 and 31 May 2006, Mr Shakoor caused or allowed Raptor to participate in transactions which were connected with the fraudulent evasion of VAT, which Mr Shakoor either knew or should have known about.

Mr Shakoor caused Raptor to make a wrongful claim of a VAT repayment for the period ending May 2006 totalling £1,224,134.

Tony Hannon, the Official Receiver in the Public Interest Unit South, part of the Insolvency Service said:

The Insolvency Service will take firm action when we find misconduct and wrongdoing in the operation of companies by directors.

The Insolvency Service is committed to protecting the integrity and confidence in the market both by consumers and business people alike.

Mr Naeem Shakoor, is of Glasgow and his date of birth is January 1972.

Raptor Commerce Ltd (Company Reg no. 04489352) was incorporated on 18 July 2002 and ordered into compulsory liquidation on 9 September 2013.

The order was pronounced by Mr Registrar Jones and the Secretary of State was represented by Camilla Chorfi of Selborne Chambers and the defendant was not present or represented.

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

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions.

The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies.

The agency also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.

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:

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Brave humanitarian workers based in Kemble, Gloucestershire, are the unsung heroes of 2017 for the role they played in Britain’s rapid responses to three major humanitarian catastrophes this year, the Minister for International Development Alistair Burt has said.

At Britain’s aid distribution hub at Cotswold Airport in Kemble, the Minister thanked staff for their tireless work delivering life-saving UK aid in response to the devastating Caribbean hurricanes, the ongoing Rohingya crisis and to prevent a famine in Somalia this year.

The facility in Kemble is one of two major global stockpiles where the Department for International Development stores life-saving equipment and supplies for crises – and is the only one based in Britain.

This year, emergency UK aid from emergency stockpiles, such as in Kemble, has provided:

• 827 tonnes of supplies in response to hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Caribbean, including 6,000 hygiene kits, 5,050 solar lanterns, 4,710 shelter kits, 5,140 water purification cubes and 16,000 buckets;

• 10,000 shelter kits, 20,000 blankets and 10,500 sleeping mats in response to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh; and

• 20,000 shelter kits and peg and pole sets to prevent the humanitarian situation in Somalia deteriorating further.

Speaking at the disaster aid hub in Kemble, International Development Minister Alistair Burt said:

UK aid has saved countless lives this year by responding rapidly to disasters around the world and our aid distribution hub in Kemble is crucial to getting emergency support to those that so urgently need it.

These brave humanitarian workers are the unsung heroes of 2017.

They have played a vital role getting life-saving food, water and shelter to people struck by hurricanes in the Caribbean, innocent families driven from their homes in Burma and people starving because of the food crisis in East Africa.

The UK prides itself on not only delivering aid quickly, but also making sure our products are the best possible quality.

I am proud that we are driving innovation and the hub in Kemble is filled to the rafters with durable products that people in emergency situations can rely on in the toughest situations imaginable.

By maintaining its own supplies at Cotswold Airport, the Department for International Development (DFID) is able to fly emergency aid to people in disaster situations as quickly as possible.

The UK’s emergency response capacity has been increased this year and DFID is able to respond to six humanitarian emergencies a year, delivering life-saving supplies to 25,000 people in a disaster.

Staff are on alert 24 hours a day and are ready to respond to disasters that could strike at anytime, anywhere in the world.

Staff are busy restocking the aid distribution hub, which remains ready to respond to any emergencies and is expected to be fully stocked by Christmas Day.

Notes to Editors

1. DFID’s aid distribution hub in Kemble has been in operation for more than 8 years.

2. It currently stores solar lanterns, kitchen sets, shelter kits, water purification kits, armoured vehicles, a field hospital, a boat module, an office and life support module and part of an airfield module.

3. The site has 22,000 square foot of storage, which means DFID can respond to six crises a year. The supplies held in Kemble alone could deliver life-saving supplies to 25,000 people in a disaster situation.

4. The facility in Kemble is one of two major global stockpiles where the Department for International Development stores life-saving equipment and supplies for crises – the other stockpile is in Dubai.

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Yi Yang Chen was served a 10 year disqualification order at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 23 November 2017 following an investigation by the Insolvency Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy . The disqualification commenced on 14 December 2017.

The investigation found Mr Chen had caused Golden Earl to deliberately understate its profits between 4 February 2007 and 31 May 2014 from which he gained personal benefit.

The court heard that between 4 February 2007 and 31 May 2014, Mr Chen caused Golden Earl to conceal profits totalling £653,436 on which Corporation Tax of £135,528 was owed. In the absence of declaration, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issued an assessment in the sum of £345,479. This was made up of £135,528 for concealed Corporation Tax, £16,994 for interest and a penalty charge of £192,957.

Between 31 May 2008 and 31 May 2014, from the concealed profits, Mr Chen received loans and advances from Golden Earl which were paid to his private bank accounts, totalling at least £615,133 giving rise to a tax liability of £155,788.

In the absence of Golden Earl making payment of £501,257, HMRC placed the company into liquidation on 9 December 2015.

Robert Clarke, Head of Company Investigation at the Insolvency Service said:

The public can be assured that where there have been abuses of public finance provisions which result in losses of this type, the Insolvency Service will investigate the conduct of the parties involved and take action to remove the privilege of limited liability trading for a lengthy period.

Golden Earl Limited, (CRO No. SC285136) went into compulsory liquidation on 9 December 2015 with a deficiency to creditors of £618,890. The company was incorporated to operate a Chinese takeaway from 13 Market Street, Mid Calder, Livingston, West Lothian, EH3 0AL.

The Secretary of State was represented by solicitor Kevin Clancy of Shepherd & Wedderburn. The action was undefended.

Mr Chen’s address is Unit 6, 30/32 Knowsley Street, Manchester, M7 8HQ.

Yi Yang Chen if of Manchester and his date of birth is April 1971.

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.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions. The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies. The agency also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.

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:

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The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accepted a disqualification undertaking from Mr Alam, disqualifying him for five years from 15 December 2017.

An Insolvency Service investigation found Mr Alam caused inaccurate statutory VAT returns to be submitted to Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on behalf of AGF Cuisine Ltd. Although not formally appointed as a director of AGF Cuisine Ltd, his role in the company was that of a director.

Mr Alam’s disqualification follows collaboration between the Insolvency Service and HMRC.

An in depth HMRC investigation including a till interrogation, revealed suppression of takings and also identified sales from debit/credit card takings that had been omitted from submitted VAT returns. In total, HMRC raised assessments of £54,829 and a penalty of £26,536 to the company deeming the actions were deliberate.

At liquidation the company was stated as owing in excess of £187,000 to HMRC in relation to arrears of VAT, PAYE and National Insurance Contributions, Corporation Tax and penalties.

Commenting on the disqualification, Lawrence Zussman, Deputy Head of Investigations for the Insolvency Service said:

Much of the public service is funded by the correct amount of taxes being paid. By not declaring and paying the correct amount of taxes, the public has been deprived from receiving the services it deserves from the public sector.

The Insolvency Service will not hesitate to take action against directors so they cannot abuse limited liability provided by trading through a company.

Safiullah Alam, 45, was a Company Secretary AGF Cuisine Ltd (Company number 08042925), which was incorporated in April 2012.

Safiullah Alam, of London, date of birth August 1972, has been disqualified for a period of 5 years commencing from 15 December 2017.

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.

Persons subject to a disqualification order are bound by a range of other restrictions. The Insolvency Service, an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), administers the insolvency regime, and aims to deliver and promote a range of investigation and enforcement activities both civil and criminal in nature, to support fair and open markets. We do this by effectively enforcing the statutory company and insolvency regimes, maintaining public confidence in those regimes and reducing the harm caused to victims of fraudulent activity and to the business community, including dealing with the disqualification of directors in corporate failures.

BEIS’ mission is to build a dynamic and competitive UK economy that works for all, in particular by creating the conditions for business success and promoting an open global economy. The Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions team contributes to this aim by taking action to deter fraud and to regulate the market. They investigate and prosecute a range of offences, primarily relating to personal or company insolvencies. The agency also authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.

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

Media enquiries for this press release – 020 7674 6910 or 020 7596 6187

You can also follow the Insolvency Service on:

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