Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many UK resident directors of UK registered companies have criminal convictions.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Companies House does not hold this information. Having a criminal conviction does not preclude a person from being a director. Consequently, Companies House does not ask for or record this information.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many non-UK resident directors of UK registered companies have criminal convictions.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Companies House does not hold this information. Having a criminal conviction does not preclude a person from being a director. Consequently, Companies House does not ask for or record this information.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will exercise his powers under the Companies Act 2006 to wind up Business Bank Italy Limited.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
Unless it is already in voluntary liquidation, a company may only be wound up by a petition to the Court. There are no provisions in the Companies Act 2006 for the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to present a petition to wind a company up; these are contained in the Insolvency Act 1986.
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy may present a petition, as provided in the Insolvency Act 1986 only if he decides it is in the public interest to do so, having considered a report of information obtained by a statutory investigation into the company's affairs. I am not currently aware of any ongoing investigation into Business Bank Italy Limited.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the number of directors of companies registered in the UK who are aged under 16.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
There are no directors of companies registered in the UK who are aged under 16.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for the Insolvency Service to publish its report on BHS.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Insolvency Service is currently bringing disqualification proceedings against a number of former directors of BHS and connected companies. As these matters may now be tested in Court it would not be appropriate to comment or issue further information at this time.Once the disqualification proceedings are complete government will consider what detail it is appropriate to publish, having full regard to any legal restrictions on publication and also the legitimate public interest in the cause of the BHS failure.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who is responsible for monitoring good governance of the Recognised Supervisory Bodies.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
The Secretary of State has delegated responsibility for overseeing the work of recognised supervisory bodies (RSBs) to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). The FRC must be satisfied that an RSB meets the conditions set out in Schedule 10 of the Companies Act 2006, as amended by the Statutory Auditors and Third Country Auditors Regulations 2016, in order for it to be recognised. In addition, as the competent authority for statutory audit, the FRC must be satisfied that each RSB has the necessary arrangements in place to fulfil the audit regulatory tasks delegated to it by the FRC.
If necessary where there is a failure to meet the required conditions the FRC can reclaim any audit regulatory functions that it has delegated to an RSB. If an RSB does not meet the Schedule 10 requirements, the FRC can remove the body’s recognition as a supervisory body.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if will bring forward legislative proposals to exclude organisations involved in tax avoidance from preparing reports required by section 166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The contracting of Section 166 reports to external firms is a matter for the regulators: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent people from organisations involved in tax avoidance from being permitted to sit on the HMRC Board.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The recruitment of Non-Executive Directors is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the appointment process includes vetting of candidates. HMRC takes significant care to make sure that individuals appointed to sit on the HMRC Board are suitable candidates.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has met representatives of the Channel Islands to discuss the potential publication of their registers of the beneficial ownership of companies.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives of the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories, and of overseas jurisdictions, to discuss issues of mutual importance.
The Government will use its best endeavours, diplomatically and with international partners, including through multilateral fora such as the G20, FATF and the OECD, to promote public registers of company beneficial ownership as the global standard by 2023. We would expect the Crown Dependencies to also adopt public registers in that event, and they have committed to doing so.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential risks associated with privatising waking night cover in approved premises.
Answered by Rory Stewart
The new arrangements for night cover will promote the health and safety of those who live and work in Approved Premises and of the community at large. Under previous arrangements in some Approved Premises, only one member of staff was required to be awake during the night hours. The new contracts require two staff to be on duty and awake during the night in all Approved Premises. This model has been in operation for many years in certain parts of the country and has provided an effective service.
The new contracts make appropriate provision to protect the health and safety of staff, service users and members of the public. Services must be delivered in full compliance with statutory obligations and the Health & Safety Executive’s Approved Codes of Practice. Suppliers must be able to provide professional advice to their own staff, sub-contractors and the client where required.
The National Probation Service is monitoring the contracts carefully. It is working with contractors to address issues that arise and to consolidate the processes to ensure effective delivery of night cover.