Bankrupt sentenced after concealing Spanish property

William Paul Glen Haynes appeared at Bristol Crown Court where he received a 16-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, having been charged with 3 counts against the Insolvency Act 1986.

The court heard that William Haynes (61) was declared bankrupt in March 2018 and was legally obliged to disclose all his assets to the Official Receiver as his trustee in bankruptcy.

William Haynes, however, deliberately concealed a villa in Mallorca, Spain, as well as a Spanish bank account. He then went onto transfer €97,000 from the Spanish bank account from the proceeds of the sale of the Spanish property.

The Official Receiver gave William Haynes the opportunity to declare his assets but he continued to deny that he owned the Spanish villa.

William Haynes appeared at Bristol Crown Court on 13 April 2022 where he was sentenced by His Honour Judge Picton. In addition to the suspended sentence, William Haynes was ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £4,960 within 12 months.

William Haynes is also subject to a 9-year Bankruptcy Restriction Undertaking after the Official Receiver considered him a risk to future creditors. The additional bankruptcy restrictions put constraints on William Haynes’ ability to secure credit, as well as run companies.

Glenn Wickes, Chief Investigator for the Insolvency Service, said:

All bankrupts have a legal obligation to declare all their assets and William Haynes was no exception. William Haynes, however, continued to conceal significant assets from the Official Receiver, which should have rightfully gone to payback his creditors.

William Haynes’ sentence should serve as a strong warning to others who think they can conceal assets to the detriment of their creditors that we will prosecute and bring offenders to court.

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:




First Illegal migrants told of impending removal to Rwanda

News story

Government takes first steps to operationalise the Migration and Economic Development Partnership.

The first group of illegal migrants with no right to be in the UK will this week be informed of our intention to relocate them to Rwanda under the new Migration and Economic Development Partnership.

Migrants who crossed the Channel are among those who will be served with notices and the government has the power to detain individuals pending their removal from the UK.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

“Britain’s asylum system is broken as criminals exploit and smuggle people into our country at huge costs to UK taxpayers. The world-leading migration partnership with Rwanda means those making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys to the UK may be relocated to Rwanda to have their claims for asylum considered and to rebuild their lives there – helping break the people smugglers’ business model and prevent loss of life.

“This is just the first stage of the process and we know it will take time as some will seek to frustrate the process and delay removals. I will not be deterred from acting to deliver on the changes the British people voted for to take back control of our money, laws and borders.”

These notifications are the first step in the process and warn migrants they may not be admitted to the UK’s asylum system because they travelled through safe countries where they could and should have claimed asylum.

Lawyers representing some of those notified are expected to lodge claims to prevent removal, and as set out when the partnership was first announced, first flights are expected to take place in the coming months.

It comes as the Home Office publishes guidance to inform decision-making in the interests of transparency.

The guidance published includes a formal, robust and comprehensive assessment of Rwanda, reaffirming that it is a safe country to relocate people to.

It is based on a wide range of research, including visits to the country and interviews with independent organisations working there.

Read the Home Office guidance:

Published 10 May 2022




First UK satellite launch in summer 2022

The first satellite launch from the UK will take place this summer as Prometheus-2 takes off from Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay, the Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin has announced today.

Built by In-Space Missions Ltd, based in Hampshire, and designed with Airbus Defence and Space, Prometheus-2 is a collaboration between the UK Ministry of Defence and international partners, including the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Two shoebox-sized satellites, ‘Cubesats’, will provide a test platform for monitoring radio signals including GPS and sophisticated imaging, paving the way for a more collaborative and connected space communication system with our allies.

This space mission will allow MOD to better understand how the UK and its international partners can work together to create a more capable and flexible system at a lower cost than could be achieved alone. The technology on board the satellites will enable MOD to identify new techniques and algorithms for operating satellites and data processing.

Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin said:

Space technology is crucial for developing Defence capabilities and the launch of Prometheus-2 represents another important step forward for our homegrown space programme.

This collaboration with In-Space Missions and Airbus paves the way for the UK to become a more resilient, more robust and more significant global space entity.

NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolose said:

We are thrilled to be part of another trailblazing endeavour with the first-ever launch of a commercial rocket from Western Europe.

It’s an honour to join the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence in announcing this historic enterprise. We look forward to this remarkable achievement as the foundation of an even stronger collaboration between our nations.

The Cubesats will each have separate equipment on-board to test novel concepts as a pathfinder in support of the Minerva constellation for future space-based intelligence and surveillance.

Director Space at MOD, Air Vice Marshal Harv Smyth said:

This is a great example of the power of international collaboration – a key tenet of our Defence Space Strategy. Prometheus 2 will deliver immense value to the UK MOD’s future space programme and, thanks to our partners in the National Reconnaissance Office, this highly-capable satellite will launch from UK soil this summer.

I am hugely proud of what we have achieved together and this is just the beginning.

Dstl’s Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead said:

The Prometheus-2 mission, with the first ever directly owned Dstl satellites, exemplifies the decades-long collaborative relationship with our international allies, and shows how we can best partner with industry. It will achieve critical R&D outcomes and help increase our pool of qualified space personnel to help grow the UK’s capability to deliver space systems in the future.

The Cubesats will be carried on Virgin Orbit’s Launcher One rocket which takes off horizontally from a modified Boeing 747 jet, named Cosmic Girl. They will operate in low Earth Orbit, around 550km above the Earth and 50-100km apart at 17,000mph.

Cubesat 1 – includes a hyperspectral imager, a laser detector and a GPS receiver. The hyperspectral imager will capture multiple slivers of pictures over different wavelengths of light for higher definition images. The GPS receiver confirms the precise time and position of the satellite over the area of the Earth to be photographed.

Cubesat 2 – includes two optical imaging cameras, a laser range finder, and a GPS receiver. One camera will be fitted with a wide-angle lens for a 180-degree view of Earth’s surface with the second camera observing the other Cubesat 1 to support space situational awareness and enables us to understand what else orbits the Earth.

These satellites will support MOD’s science and technology activities both in orbit and on the ground, through continued development of Dstl’s Hermes ground-station based in Portsmouth, and enabling improved coordination and collaboration with our international partners.




Call for project proposals: Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) in Iraq

Objective

The UK has a long and positive history of migration. Most migrants move through safe, legal routes and can access the significant economic benefits of regular migration. These benefits are also experienced by host countries and countries of origin.

However, irregular migration frequently endangers lives, often the most vulnerable. This is particularly concerning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which we anticipate is likely to drive more migrants towards irregular routes. That is why, under the recently published Integrated Review (p.95) we have committed to taking a whole-of-route approach, working through our diplomatic and development network along key migration routes to address the issues that drive irregular migration in the first place.

In this vein, the UK Government is scoping a pilot project which seeks to address the push factors / drivers of irregular migration in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Through this pilot, we aim to test how economically empowering vulnerable individuals through in-country job creation can contribute to addressing irregular migration flows. We are therefore seeking your proposals for projects to achieve this objective.

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a cross government fund that supports and delivers activity to tackle instability and prevent conflicts that threaten UK interests. It has been a catalyst for a more integrated UK government approach, bringing together the UK’s diplomatic, development, military, and security capabilities to support delivery of the UK Government’s top national security priorities.

Project content requirements

We have a limited evidence base on the drivers of irregular migration in the KRI but our research to date indicates a lack of access to livelihoods / unemployment is a top driver for irregular migration in the KRI:

  • recent surveys of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Iraq found that, of those surveyed, 55% planned to leave, citing under / unemployment as the top reason for this; similarly, employment was the top reason for emigrating (higher than war, education, or family reunification) amongst youths (18-34) in Iraq
  • third-sector research indicates that KRI irregular migration is driven by the juxtaposition of high education levels and limited employment opportunities within rural communities
  • research indicates that high education levels in rural KRI communities are not translating into economic opportunities, which may compound aspirations for irregular migration. This is particularly pertinent amongst young men and, as such, any livelihood interventions will need to be targeted to the specific needs of the community

In this vein, we are seeking an implementing partner who uses a “Do No Harm” approach, has a proven track record of working with communities in Iraq which are prone to irregular migration, and is live to the associated protection risks. The implementing partner will:

  • implement a project which can provide livelihoods opportunities via job creation to address the socio-economic push factors / drivers of irregular migration in the KRI. Any jobs created should be appropriate to the local market and offer meaningful socio-economic integration
  • be able to identify and specifically target those who are most at risk of undertaking high-risk irregular migration to the UK – noting that most irregular migrants typically remain within their region of origin – the beneficiary cohort of this pilot project should be limited to a specific demographic
  • systematically collect data on the barriers to livelihoods, migrant experiences, and journeys to build a more comprehensive, holistic picture of the key and emerging drivers of irregular migration in Iraq, and those who may undertake it
  • include migration-specific Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) indicators (something which is seldom included in development programmes) to measure the effect of the intervention

Bids for the project should address the following:

  • how your organisation is well-equipped with the expertise and resources for this project
  • your organisation’s proposed approach to delivering and monitoring the impact of the pilot. Bids should include a particular focus on how they shall measure the value for money impact of their proposed approach. Strong proposals will be high-impact interventions, defined by clear evidence of the potential to deliver solutions that are sustainable and / or scalable
  • how your organisation will deliver its activities and outcomes under different COVID-19 scenarios, including full or partial lockdowns and restrictions on local / international travel
  • proposals should clearly outline timeframes, costs, risks, and sustainability. Activities should take an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach, working with local organisations and partners wherever possible

Scope and scale

Funding of £500,000 to £1,000,000 will be available for a piloting phase to 31 March 2023, with potential to scale up the programme in subsequent years.

Bidders should not craft proposals in such a way to reach the budget ceiling. Bidders should instead construct their tender to specifically meet the objectives in pursuit of demonstrable impact and value for money.

The funding available will not be categorised as Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Essential skills and competencies of the implementer

The implementer will have:

  • experience working on the relevant issues identified in this document, ideally in conducting research and livelihoods activity concurrently
  • relevant network of contacts in the UK and in the proposed geography
  • experience and familiarity of migration and socio-economic development programming (particularly in job creation)
  • programme, project and budget management skills, experience, capabilities, and capacity

Eligibility criteria

The project will be managed under an Accountable Grant Agreement (or MoU for inter-governmental organisations only). Projects in this framework are not allowed to generate a profit for the delivery partner. Proposals from for-profit organisations can only be considered if an officially registered non-profit making arm or division of the for-profit organisation will deliver the project.

Bidding process

The CSSF Team will evaluate all submissions using the selection criteria listed below. Unfortunately, feedback will only be provided to successful bids, as we expect a large amount of interest.

We estimate that the project approved for funding will start in Q2 (July-September) 2022.

All bid submissions must be in English. The Budget must be presented in pounds (GBP).

Please note, we will not consider proposals that are delivered after the submission deadline.

Selection criteria

Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • alignment with the terms of reference
  • value for money: economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and cost-effectiveness
  • project viability: capacity and capability of implementing organisation(s)
  • project design: achievable objectives / outputs / outcomes / impact

Please send queries to charles.laidlaw@fcdo.gov.uk, daniel.ward4@homeoffice.gov.uk or caoimhe.udom@fcdo.gov.uk.




The IPA appoints a new Director of Function, Profession & Standards

Press release

Karina Singh joins the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) as Director of Function, Profession and Standards.

Government has today appointed a new Director of Function, Profession & Standards, supporting our determination to transform the delivery of the UK’s most essential and life-changing major projects and programmes.

Karina Singh will replace current IPA director Fiona Spencer, who retires later this year, and will lead a team that sets and drives continuous improvement in functional standards of project delivery.

The role also supports our ambition to build professional capability and capacity, and delivers world-class leadership and learning programmes to the project delivery profession across government.

Nick Smallwood, IPA Chief Executive and Head of the Project Delivery Function, said:

I’m delighted to welcome Karina Singh to the IPA, who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to a role that will continue to build professional skills and capabilities in government project delivery.

Karina’s role will play an important part in implementing the Government Project Delivery Academy and associated accreditation scheme, as well as embedding our new Government Project Delivery Framework and its supporting products.

Karina Singh, Director of Function, Profession & Standards, said:

I am delighted to join the IPA and Cabinet Office at this crucial time – the expertise, size and diversity of the government project delivery community is crucial to delivering our ambition to build back better and level up the UK.

We are at the heart of the government’s reform agenda to modernise the Civil Service, and I look forward to leading the next phase of this investment in our shared knowledge and expanding our expertise to meet this challenge.

The opportunity to work with colleagues in government and across the sector to shape the profession, and improve delivery outcomes, is hugely exciting.

Published 10 May 2022