HM Government

Mr Ireland has given an undertaking to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that he won’t act as a director of a company for a period of 7 years from 21 March 2017.

Scotboys Group Plc was a company set up for wired telecommunication and travel agency activities.

On 22 September 2015, Scotboys Group Plc, with liabilities of £52,106 was placed into compulsory liquidation following a winding up petition lodged by Direct Response Limited. Mr Ireland was the sole director of Scotboys Group Plc at that time.

Following the Liquidator’s appointment, the investigation found as a consequence of Mr Ireland’s failure to co-operate and deliver up the company’s accounting records it was not possible to verify:

• why Scotboys Group Plc failed to meet the legal requirements of a Plc
• the true nature of the company’s trading business and history
• the financial position of the company, at any given time, between incorporation on 07 August 2013 and 22 September 2015 when the company was placed into liquidation
• what became of unpaid goods supplied by creditors totalling £24,958

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

Keeping proper records is a pivotal duty for directors and there is no place in the business environment for those who neglect their responsibilities in this area and thereby cover up the activities of the companies they manage. The lack of records in this case made it impossible to determine whether there was other, more serious, misconduct at Scotboys Group Plc and that is reflected in the lengthy period of disqualification.

This ban should serve as a reminder to any directors tempted to do the same: the Insolvency Service will vigorously investigate you and seek to remove you from the marketplace.

Notes to editors

Scotboys Group Plc (CRO No. SC456211) went into compulsory liquidation on 22 September 2015 with a deficiency to creditors of £52,106. The company was incorporated to provide wired telecommunications and travel agency activities.

Christopher John Ireland is of Dundee and his date of birth is 7 December 1982.

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.

read more

Market investigations are powerful tools that can bring in major changes to make markets work better for consumers and businesses.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) committed, in its Annual Plan, to review the way it conducts them. It took account of experience since they were introduced in the Enterprise Act 2002, and in particular of the CMA’s major investigations into energy and banking, as well as legislative changes that came into force in 2014, reducing their time limit from 2 years to 18 months.

The CMA is proposing the following changes to streamline its existing processes and ensure it meets the shorter statutory timescale:

• Increasing interaction with stakeholders at an early stage in the investigation, including holding formal hearings sooner in the process.
• Assessing potential remedies to improve the market at an earlier stage in the investigation.
• Reducing the number of formal publication and consultation stages – removing the Updated Issues Statement, and combining provisional findings and provisional remedies into a single Provisional Decision Report.
• Allowing market studies (a shorter look at the market which can precede market investigations) to carry out preparatory work when they are likely to lead to a full investigation.
• Introducing the option for the CMA board to give an advisory steer on the scope of the market investigation, which is run by an independent group of CMA panel members.

The CMA considers that these proposed changes will enable it to carry out its market investigations more quickly, without reducing their effectiveness. It also believes they will preserve a fair and robust process and independence of decision-making throughout, which is central to the regime. And it thinks that earlier discussion of possible remedies to any competition problems uncovered should ensure a fuller discussion with all parties involved, ensuring the most effective remedies possible.

The document outlining the proposed changes and the resulting changes in the CMA’s published guidance, is available on the consultation page.

Interested parties are encouraged to respond to the consultation, which will run until 2 May 2017. Responses should be submitted by email to marketinvestigations-review@cma.gsi.gov.uk or by post to:

read more

Today [March 6] we are going to be having a discussion about the continued role of the EU in defence and security and clearly this is something that the UK supports. We are always going to be part of Europe’s wider security architecture provided, of course, that it does not undermine NATO. NATO is the cornerstone of our Atlantic alliance and of our defence.

We’ll be having discussions about Ukraine and what we can collectively do to shore up Ukraine in view of the various threats that it faces. I’ll be briefing the Council along with my Polish colleague – Witold Waszczykowski – about our recent trip to Kiev and what we were able to discuss with President Poroshenko and Foreign Minister Klimkin about the struggles that they face, and the threats that they face, particularly in Eastern Ukraine.

We’ll also have a discussion with Sameh Shoukry – the Egyptian Foreign Minister – and we’ll be talking again about what we in Europe can do to shore up Egypt as it makes its important progress towards democracy and greater reform.

read more

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 06 March but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the ai… read more

The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 2 March 2017 but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.

M1 junction 6 Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire: barrier repairs

Work to improve safety by carrying out barrier repairs will start this week. The southbound exit and entry slip roads will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place for the entry slip road via the M1 northbound to junction 8 and return. A clearly signed diversion will be in place for the exit slip road via junction 5 and return.

M3 junction 2 (M25), Surrey: smart motorway improvement

Work to reduce congestion and improves journey times continues this week. The dedicated link roads from the M3 southbound to the M25 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 7am, on Saturday 11 March for 2 nights. Work on Sunday will be between 10pm and 5.30am. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M3 junction 3 and return.

M3 junctions 2 (M25) to 4a Farnborough, Hampshire: smart motorway improvement

Work to reduce congestion and improve journey times continues this week with narrow lanes a 50mph speed limit in place on both carriageways between junctions 2 and 4a, with a free recovery service operating 24 hours a day.

The southbound carriageway between junctions 2 and 4a will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 3 nights and overnight, between 8pm and 7am, on Friday 10 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M25 junction 13, A30 and the A327 to M3 junction 4a.

The northbound carriageway between junctions 4a and 2 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 3 nights and overnight, between 8pm and 7am, on Friday 10 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A327, A30, M25 junction 13 and M25 junction 12.

The southbound carriageway between junctions 3 and 4a will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 5.30am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A322, A30 and A327 to M3 junction 4a. The northbound carriageway between junctions 4a and 3 will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 5.30am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A327, A30 and A322 to M3 junction 3.

M4 junctions 3 (A312) to 1 Chiswick, West London: electrical installation

Work to improve safety by carrying out electrical installation will start this week. The eastbound carriageway, including Heston Services and junction 2, will be closed overnight, between midnight and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 2 nights; and overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, from Wednesday 8 March for 3 nights. Work on Friday will start at 11pm. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A4.

The westbound carriageway, including Heston Services and junction 2, will be closed overnight, between midnight and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 5 nights. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A4.

M4 junction 5 Langley, Berkshire: drainage survey

Work to maintain safety by carrying out drainage surveys will continue this week. The eastbound entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M4 westbound to junction 6 and return.

M11 junction 5 Chigwell, Essex: carriageway repairs

Work to improve journeys by carrying out repairs will start this week. The northbound exit slip road and the southbound entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the M25 junction junction 26.

M25 junction 9 Leatherhead, Surrey: drainage

Work to maintain safety by carrying out drainage inspections and repairs will start this week. The clockwise entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the M25 anti-clockwise to junction 8 and return.

M25 junctions 10 (A3) to 11 Chertsey, Surrey: bridge joint replacement

Work to improve journeys by carrying out bridge joint replacement on the structure that carries the M25 over the River Wey and the South West Trains railway line continues this week. The clockwise carriageway and junction 10 entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 9pm and 8am, on Saturday 11 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A3, A245, B376 and A317 to junction 11.

M25 junction 12 (M3), Surrey: smart motorway improvement

Work to improve journeys by carrying out smart motorway improvement continues this week. The dedicated link roads from the M25 in both directions to the M3 southbound will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 3 nights and overnight, between 8pm and 7am on Friday 10 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M25 junction 13, A30 and the A327 to M3 junction 4a.

M25 junction 14 Heathrow, Greater London: signage

Work to maintain safety by carrying out signage work will start this week. The clockwise exit slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 15, M4 eastbound to junction 4 and return.

M25 junction 14 and Terminal 5 spur road, Heathrow, Greater London: maintenance and inspections

Work to maintain safety by carrying out maintenance and inspection work will start this week. The clockwise exit slip road and the Terminal 5 spur road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Saturday 11 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 15, M4 westbound to junction 5 and return.

M25 junction 23 South Mimms, Hertfordshire: structure maintenance

Work to maintain safety by carrying out structure maintenance will start this week. The southern section of the roundabout will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, from Thursday 9 March for 2 nights. Work on Friday will start at 11pm. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A1 to Stirling Corner and return.

M25 junctions 25 Enfield, Greater London: electrical

Work to maintain safety by carrying out electrical works will start this week. The clockwise entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, from Tuesday 7 March for 4 nights. Work on Friday will start at 11pm. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M25 anti-clockwise to junction 24 and return.

M25 junction 29 Romford, Essex: carriageway repairs

Work to improve journeys by carrying out repairs will start this week. The anti-clockwise entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Tuesday 7 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M25 clockwise to junction 30 and return.

The clockwise exit slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 30 and return.

M25 junction 31 Lakeside, Essex: barriers and street lighting

Work to maintain safety by carrying out barrier works will start this week. The anti-clockwise exit slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 6am, on Saturday 11 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 30.

Work to maintain safety by carrying out street lighting works will continue this week. The clockwise entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 2 nights. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via junction 30.

M26 junction 1 to 3, Kent: survey

Work to maintain safety by carrying out survey work will start this week. The M26 eastbound will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the M20 and M25.

A1(M) junction 1 South Mimms, Hertfordshire: vegetation clearance

Work to maintain safety by carrying out vegetation clearance will start this week. The southbound exit slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A5135 Borehamwood and return.

A13 (A1012), Essex: electrical

Work to improve safety by carrying out electrical works will start this week. The westbound entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Tuesday 7 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A13 eastbound to the A128 Brentwood junction and return.

The eastbound entry and exit slip roads will be closed overnight, between 11pm and 5am, on Friday 10 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place for the entry slip road via the A13 westbound to the junction for the M25 and return. A clearly signed diversion will be in place for the exit slip road via the A128 Brentwood junction and return.

A13 (A1089) Tilbury, Essex: electrical

Work to improve safety by carrying out electrical works will start this week. The A13 westbound link road to the A1089 southbound will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A1012 Grays junction and return.

The eastbound link road to the A1089 southbound will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A128 Brentwood junction and return.

A21 Sevenoaks, Kent: electrical

Work to improve safety by carrying out electrical works will start this week. The A21 to M25 clockwise link road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, from Monday 6 March for 5 nights. Work on Friday will start at 11pm. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via M25 anti-clockwise to junction 4 and return.

A282 junction 1a Swanscombe, Kent: tunnel maintenance and over-width detection system

Work to improve safety by carrying out overwidth detection system works will start this week. The northbound carriageway at the exit slip road will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, from Tuesday 7 March for 4 nights. Work on Friday will start at 11pm. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the exit and entry slip roads.

Work to maintain safety by carrying out tunnel maintenance will continue this week. The northbound entry slip road will be closed overnight, between 8.30pm and 5.30am, on Saturday 11 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A282 southbound to junction 1b and return.

A282 (M25) Dartford – Thurrock Crossing: maintenance

Work to improve journeys at the Dartford Crossing continues this week. The following closures will be in place with fully signed diversions in place during the northbound east tunnel closures for oversized vehicles.

• Monday 6 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound west tunnel
• Tuesday 7 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound east tunnel
• Wednesday 8 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound east tunnel
• Thursday 9 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound east tunnel
• Friday 10 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound east tunnel
• Saturday 11 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound west tunnel
• Sunday 12 March (9pm to 5.30am) northbound east tunnel

The QEII Bridge will have three (of four) lanes closed overnight, between 10pm and 5.30am, from Monday 6 March for 5 nights.

A1089 Tilbury, Essex: electrical

Work to improve safety by carrying out electrical works will start this week. The northbound link road to the A13 westbound will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Monday 6 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A13 eastbound to the A128 Brentwood junction and return.

The northbound link road to the A13 eastbound will be closed overnight, between 10pm and 5am, on Thursday 9 March. A clearly signed diversion will be in place via the A13 westbound to the A1020 Grays junction and return.

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.

read more